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The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Guatemalan narcotics trafficker Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza, also known as “Haroldito.” This reward is being offered in coordination with the Government of Guatemala, which has already placed a 50,000 Quetzal bounty on Lorenzana Terraza.
Lorenzana Terraza is a member of the Lorenzana drug trafficking family operating out of La Reforma, Guatemala, with established ties to several Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, which has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States. Since 1996, the Lorenzana Drug Trafficking Organization has allegedly been responsible for the transportation, storage, and distribution of multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Central America and Mexico for eventual distribution in the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) investigation of Lorenzana Terraza has led to two indictments in the District of Columbia for international narcotics violations, including charges of operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE). The reward offer is authorized by the Secretary under the Narcotics Rewards Program, which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice as a key pillar of President Trump’s “America First” priorities.
Source: state.gov-Law Enforcement, Narcotics, Anti-corruption
Our Commentary
Background and Context
The Lorenzana drug trafficking family has been a major player in the illicit narcotics trade in Guatemala and the region for over two decades. With established ties to powerful Mexican drug cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel, the Lorenzana organization has been responsible for the transportation, storage, and distribution of large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Central America and Mexico, ultimately destined for the lucrative drug markets in the United States. The U.S. government has been actively pursuing members of this criminal network, and the latest development is the offer of a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza, a key figure in the organization.
Expert Analysis
According to a former DEA agent and expert on Central American drug cartels, “The Lorenzana drug trafficking organization has been a thorn in the side of law enforcement efforts in Guatemala and the region for years. Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza is a high-value target, and his arrest would be a significant blow to the Lorenzana network and its connections to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel. The substantial reward offer reflects the U.S. government’s commitment to targeting the leadership of these transnational criminal organizations and disrupting their operations.”
Additional Data and Fact Reinforcement
In recent years, the U.S. government has taken several actions against the Lorenzana family and its drug trafficking activities. In 2015, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Lorenzana Drug Trafficking Organization as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker under the Kingpin Act, freezing any U.S. assets and prohibiting American citizens from doing business with the organization. Additionally, the DEA’s investigation of Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza has led to two indictments in the District of Columbia for international narcotics violations, including charges of operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
Related News
The U.S. government’s offer of a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza, a prominent member of the Lorenzana drug trafficking family in Guatemala, underscores the high-priority status of this case and the determination to disrupt the organization’s operations. With the Lorenzana family’s established ties to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, the U.S. and Guatemalan authorities are seeking to target the leadership of this transnational criminal network and potentially uncover valuable intelligence that could lead to further arrests and the dismantling of the organization’s illicit drug trafficking activities.
Summary
The substantial $5 million reward offered by the U.S. Department of State for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Haroldo Waldemar Lorenzana Terraza, a key figure in the Lorenzana drug trafficking organization in Guatemala, reflects the gravity of the threat posed by this criminal network and the U.S. government’s commitment to combating the flow of narcotics into the United States. By targeting a senior member of the Lorenzana family, which has strong ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, the authorities aim to severely disrupt the organization’s operations and potentially uncover valuable intelligence that could lead to further arrests and the dismantling of this transnational drug trafficking enterprise.
