# Law Enforcement, Narcotics, Anti-corruption – United States Department of State

- Assistant Secretary Noyes Travels to Colombia Office of the SpokespersonAssistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Julieta Valls Noyes will travel to Bogotá, Colombia May 27-30. She will accompany Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma and other delegation members in the 11th round of the U.S.-Colombia High-Level Dialogue to underscore areas of shared interest including migration management, counternarcotics and security, human rights and equity, education, economic opportunities, energy transition, and climate action. Assistant Secretary Noyes will also meet with PRM partners, staff and applicants at the Bogotá Safe Mobility Office and the Resettlement Support Center, and UNHCR and IOM representatives.
- Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago Office of the Spokesperson													HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago																																		Media Note																														May 6, 2024																																							Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson will travel to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago on May 6-10.In Saint Lucia, Assistant Secretary Robinson will underscore U.S. efforts to help our Caribbean partners counter firearms trafficking and announce additional INL assistance to further equip and train frontline customs officers to interdict small arms and light weapons at major Caribbean ports of entry. &nbsp;He will also meet with local officials to discuss opportunities to strengthen Eastern Caribbean regional security cooperation through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, including at the U.S.-supported Saint Lucia regional Forensic Center of Excellence.In Barbados, he will visit the Regional Security System and discuss U.S. investments into the Regional Police Training Center, which will serve as the future regional training hub for Caribbean law enforcement partners.In Trinidad and Tobago, the Assistant Secretary will highlight progress made on major deliverables announced by the Vice President last summer, including on the Caribbean Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), a landmark unit helping to counter the influx of firearms to the Caribbean region.&nbsp; The event will emphasize the importance of collaboration with regional partners such as the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), law enforcement from across the entire Caribbean, and U.S. interagency partners.&nbsp; The Assistant Secretary also will discuss support of future law enforcement capacity building and criminal justice system modernization with the Minister of National Security and other government officials.For more information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov and follow INL on X/Twitter at @StateINL.						Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																							Counternarcotics																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Saint Lucia																								Trinidad and Tobago
- Designating Belarusian Networks Matthew Miller, Department SpokespersonThe United States is today designating one entity and five individuals for facilitating sanctions evasion for a major Belarusian defense enterprise; six revenue generating state-owned enterprises; and five entities and five individuals involved in a global arms network connected to a U.S.-designated Belarusian defense firm.Today’s action builds on sanctions imposed by the United States in response to the fraudulent August 2020 election and for President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s support for Russia&#8217;s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp; We will continue to work with our partners and allies to expose sanctions evasion, halt illicit arms trafficking worldwide, and impose costs on those who support Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and profiteering from it.The Department of the Treasury designations were taken pursuant to Executive Order 14038, “Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Belarus.”  For more information on today’s action, see Treasury’s press release.						Tags																					Belarus																								Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions																								Office of the Spokesperson																																Sanctions
- Joint Statement on the U.S.-Spain Central America Working Group HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Joint Statement on the U.S.-Spain Central America Working Group				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Joint Statement on the U.S.-Spain Central America Working Group																																		Media Note																														April 2, 2024																																							The following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Spain on the occasion of the Central America Working Group.Begin TextAt the U.S.-Spain Working Group on Central America both parties underscored the importance of international support for the peoples of Central America and highlighted the steadfast work of local civil society actors in creating the conditions for a more prosperous, democratic future.The third annual U.S.-Spain Working Group on Central America was held on Tuesday, April 2 at Casa de América in Spain. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols led the U.S. delegation together with Secretary of State for Ibero-America and Spanish in the World Susana Sumelzo led the Spanish delegation.The United States and Spain addressed efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, address gender-based violence, protect human rights, advance regional security, promote inclusive development and economic opportunity, combat transnational crime, and coordinate to address regional migration.The meeting of the Spain-United States Working Group on Central America is the third edition after those held in Madrid, on May 25, 2022, and in Washington, on December 14, 2022.Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Todd Robinson and representatives of the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) participated in the meeting, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID).The Working Group on Central America will continue to hold meetings periodically. The meeting of the Working Group, once again, demonstrated the commitment of the United States and Spain to continue collaboration on global issues of common interest.End Text						Tags																					Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																																					Human Rights and Democracy																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Spain																																U.S. Agency for International Development
- Designation of Western Balkan Officials Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption   HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Designation of Western Balkan Officials Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption  				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Designation of Western Balkan Officials Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption  																																		Press Statement																														March 18, 2024																																							Today, the U.S. Department of State announces the public designation of former North Macedonia Special Chief Prosecutor, Katica Janeva; current mayor of Karpos, North Macedonia,&nbsp;Stevco&nbsp;Jakimovski; and former mayor of&nbsp;Kacanik, Kosovo, Xhabir&nbsp;Zharku.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their actions undermined the rule of law and the public’s faith in their respective governments’ democratic institutions and public processes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In her official capacity as former North Macedonia Special Chief Prosecutor, Janeva was involved in corrupt acts, including using her political influence and official power for personal benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is credible information Janeva&nbsp;solicited&nbsp;and accepted a bribe to influence a prosecution under her purview.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In his official&nbsp;capacity&nbsp;as mayor of Karpos municipality, North Macedonia,&nbsp;Jakimovski&nbsp;was involved in corrupt acts, including using his official position to interfere with urban development and procurement processes to&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;himself and his associates.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In his official&nbsp;capacity&nbsp;as mayor of&nbsp;Kacanik&nbsp;municipality, Kosovo,&nbsp;Zharku&nbsp;was involved in corrupt acts, including using his position to interfere with procurement processes to unlawfully&nbsp;permit&nbsp;construction on property owned by the municipality, to&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;himself and his associates.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These designations reaffirm the U.S. commitment to supporting the rule of law and strengthening democratic institutions throughout the Balkans.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Department will continue to use all available authorities to promote accountability for corrupt actors in the region and globally.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023, as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act.  In addition to Janeva and Jakimovski, the Department of State is designating their immediate family members &#8211; Jakimovski’s two adult sons, Goce Jakimovski and Damjan Jakimovski, and Janeva’s adult son, Lazar Janev.  These actions render Janeva, Jakimovski, Zharku, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States. 						Tags																																											Anti-Corruption and Transparency																															Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																																Corruption																																																					Human Rights and Democracy																															North Macedonia																								Office of the Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption																								Office of the Spokesperson
- Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Robinson Travels to Tirana, Albania and Pristina, Kosovo HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Robinson Travels to Tirana, Albania and Pristina, Kosovo				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Robinson Travels to Tirana, Albania and Pristina, Kosovo																																		Media Note																														March 18, 2024																																							Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson will travel to Tirana, Albania, from March 18-20 where he will meet with Prime Minister Edi Rama and INL partners who are supporting Albania’s work to strengthen the rule of law, combat corruption and organized crime, and build strong institutions.From March 20-22, Assistant Secretary Robinson will travel to Pristina, Kosovo, where he will meet with Kosovan President Vjosa Osmani and with INL partners in the law enforcement and justice sectors.For more information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov and follow INL on Twitter/X at @StateINL.						Tags																					Albania																								Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																							Counternarcotics																															Kosovo																								Office of the Spokesperson
- Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption Richard Nephew’s Travel to Panama Office of the SpokespersonCoordinator on Global Anti-Corruption Richard Nephew will travel to Panama from March 5-6. During his visit, he will discuss current anti-corruption efforts and challenges and identify areas for further cooperation. &nbsp;Coordinator Nephew will meet with government officials, including justice sector, law enforcement, and legislative representatives, as well as civil society and the private sector. His travel will highlight the United States’ ongoing commitment to combatting corruption and strengthening the rule of law.Follow @StateCGAC on Twitter to learn more.						Tags																					Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Office of the Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption																								Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Panama
- Sanctioning Human Rights Abusers and Corrupt Actors, and Termination of Zimbabwe Sanctions Authority Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateThe United States is today designating eleven Zimbabwean individuals and three entities, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program for their connection to corruption or serious human rights abuses.&nbsp; These designations are part of a stronger, more targeted sanctions policy towards Zimbabwe the United States is implementing following President Biden’s approval of a new Executive Order terminating the Zimbabwe sanctions program that had been in effect since 2003.We continue to have concerns regarding serious cases of corruption and human rights abuse in Zimbabwe.&nbsp; Key individuals, including members of the Government of Zimbabwe, bear responsibility for these actions, including the looting of government coffers that robs Zimbabweans of public resources.&nbsp; Multiple cases of abductions, physical abuse, and unlawful killing have left citizens living in fear.&nbsp;The United States is committed to ensuring our sanctions are relevant, timely, and targeted against those most closely connected to corruption and human rights abuses.&nbsp; We continue to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to move toward more open and democratic governance, including addressing corruption and protecting human rights, so all Zimbabweans can prosper.The Department of the Treasury designations were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.  For more information on today’s actions, see the White House announcement and Treasury’s press release.						Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																																Corruption																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Sanctions																															The Secretary of State																								Zimbabwe
- U.S. Department of State Announces Reward Offers for Criminal Associates of The ALPHV/Blackcat Ransomware Variant HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;U.S. Department of State Announces Reward Offers for Criminal Associates of The ALPHV/Blackcat Ransomware Variant				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										U.S. Department of State Announces Reward Offers for Criminal Associates of The ALPHV/Blackcat Ransomware Variant																																		Media Note																														February 15, 2024																																							Today, the Department of State is announcing reward&nbsp;offers&nbsp;of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of anyone who holds a key leadership position in the Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) group behind the ALPHV/Blackcat Ransomware variant and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of anyone participating in or conspiring or attempting to participate in a ransomware attack using the ALPHV/Blackcat variant.Over 1,000 victim entities globally have been compromised by ALPHV/Blackcat actors.&nbsp; In December 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation disrupted ALPHV/Blackcat’s operations, through distributing a decryption tool developed by the FBI that assisted dozens of victims with restoring affected computer systems and saving victims from ransom demands totaling approximately $99 million.&nbsp;The reward offer complements the Department of Justice and the FBI’s recent announcement of cooperation with law enforcement agency groups from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Spain, and Denmark, to launch a disruption campaign against the notorious ransomware gang ALPHV/Blackcat. Please direct information in response to the reward offer to the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required):&nbsp;he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion.This reward is offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice. 						Tags																																											Anti-Corruption and Transparency																															Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																							Cyber Security																																							Cybersecurity Exchange																															Office of the Spokesperson
- Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Robinson Travels to Peru and Ecuador Office of the SpokespersonAssistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson will travel to Peru and Ecuador from February 5-9 to highlight the United States’ unwavering commitment to fighting transnational organized crime and illicit narcotics.On February 6 in Peru, Assistant Secretary Robinson will meet Peruvian officials to discuss opportunities for greater collaboration to combat transnational organized crime. &nbsp;He will also visit the Port of Callao, where INL supports efforts to build Peru’s capacity to interdict illicit goods and will visit the INL-supported program for youth with substance use problems at the Superior Court of Callao/Ventanilla.From February 7-9 in Guayaquil and Quito, Ecuador, Assistant Secretary Robinson will work with Ecuadorian counterparts on furthering U.S. support to Ecuador’s stand against recent appalling levels of violence at the hands of narco-criminal elements. &nbsp;He will visit INL-supported programming that strengthens information sharing and bolsters the work of the police and armed forces.&nbsp; The Assistant Secretary will be joined by Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Kevin Sullivan in Ecuador.&nbsp; The United States will work with our partners in both Ecuador and Peru to deepen our law enforcement cooperation through U.S. security assistance programs.For more information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov and follow INL on Twitter.						Tags																					Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																							Drug Trafficking																																							Drugs																															Ecuador																								Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Peru