Being on this registry does not imply a judicial conviction, but it does imply a total loss of reputation and economic ruin for those who end up included.
News Colombia.
The so-called Clinton List has once again become a topic of conversation in Colombia after learning of new inclusions of public and business figures in this registry of the United States Department of the Treasury. Created in 1995 during the administration of former President Bill Clinton, this list – whose formal name is Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNT) List – aims to identify and sanction people and entities linked to drug trafficking, money laundering or illicit activities that affect the financial security of the United States.
See: This is what it’s like to travel on Colombia’s new tourist trains: there are rates from $15,000
Being on the Clinton List carries severe consequences. Those included are prohibited from carrying out any type of transaction with US companies or citizens, and their assets or accounts may be frozen immediately if they are under the jurisdiction of that country. The sanctions also extend to third parties who try to negotiate or maintain commercial ties with those identified, which turns inclusion on the list into a true economic and reputational condemnation.
In Colombia, the Clinton List has had a profound impact on different sectors. From football teams and export companies to well-known businessmen and politicians have been subject to these sanctions. Among the most memorable cases are that of the América de Cali club and some of its directors, who remained banned for years by the international financial system until that list came out on April 5, 2013.
More recently, names from the political sphere have reappeared linked to the list, such as President Gustavo Petro; his son, Nicolás Petro; Verónica Alcocer, Petro’s ex-partner and the Minister of the Interior; Armando Benedetti.
Figures on how many Colombians are currently on the list vary depending on sources. Media outlets such as El Espectador speak of around 370 names, while Spain’s El País raises the figure to 437. Other reports, such as that of the Las2Orillas portal, assure that, after the recent inclusion of new figures, the total of Colombians amounts to 171. The difference between the data is due, in part, to the constant updating of the registry and the eliminations or additions made periodically by OFAC.
Being included on the Clinton List does not necessarily mean a judicial conviction, but it does mean a devastating economic sanction. In many cases, those affected have managed to prove their innocence and be removed from the registry after several years of litigation. However, the reputational damage is usually irreversible, as the stigma associated with this list remains even after official exclusion.
30 years after its creation, the Clinton List continues to be a tool of financial and political power that impacts Latin America, and in particular Colombia, where it has marked the history of several companies and public figures. Its global reach and economic implications make it a feared instrument, but also a symbol of the United States’ fight against drug trafficking and corruption in the region.
You may be interested in:
