Executive Order 12978: Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers
President: Bill Clinton
Declared a national emergency over Colombia-centered narcotics trafficking and blocked property and transactions of designated traffickers and supporters.
Status: In effect as amended.
Is Executive Order 12978 still in effect? Yes. Active as amended and still listed in OFAC’s counter-narcotics sanctions framework.
What does Executive Order 12978 do?
EO 12978 declared a national emergency over significant foreign narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia. It blocked property under United States jurisdiction of named persons and later designees, prohibited transactions and evasion, and authorized Treasury to identify traffickers, material supporters and controlled entities. EO 13286 made organizational amendments. OFAC still lists EO 12978 alongside the broader 2021 global illicit-drug order in its current counter-narcotics program.
Before and after
Before the order
Existing drug-control law did not provide this Colombia-centered IEEPA blocking program.
After the order
Treasury could designate major traffickers, supporters and controlled entities and block their property.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Treasury | Identify and designate covered foreign persons | Continuing |
| US persons | Block property and avoid prohibited dealings | Subject to current regulations and licenses |
| Federal agencies | Coordinate enforcement and reporting | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 12978 declared the emergency.
The sanctions took effect.
EO 13286 made organizational amendments.
EO 14059 added a broader global illicit-drug sanctions authority.
OFAC continued to list EO 12978.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
IEEPA and the National Emergencies Act support the blocking program. Current duties, exceptions, licenses and designations are administered through OFAC regulations and notices.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- GovInfo — EO 12978 (opens in a new tab) Order text
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 14, 2026. How we research →