The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued new sanctions designations targeting Nicaragua’s gold sector, focusing on individuals and companies it says help the Murillo-Ortega regime generate revenue and maintain political control, including actors linked to the forcible seizure of U.S.-owned property. The designations were made under Executive Order 13851, as amended by Executive Order 14088. Designated individuals include Maurice Facundo Ortega Murillo and Daniel Edmundo Ortega Murillo, Santiago Hernan Bermudez Tapia (Vice Minister of Energy and Mines), Feiwu Bian and Anibal Vladimir Matus Buitrago (linked to Zhong Fu Development S.A.), Nelson Francisco Sobalvarro (linked to Compania Minera Internacional, Sociedad Anonima), and Lester Matus Tamariz (linked to Zhong Fu). Designated companies include Exportadora de Metales Sociedad Anonima, Grupo Minero Xiloa S.A., Thomas Metal S.A., Nicaragua Xinxin Linze Mineria Group S.A., Brother Metal S.A., Zhong Fu Development S.A., and Santa Rita Mining Company S.A.; the release linked Zhong Fu and Santa Rita to the 2025 occupation of BHMB Mining Nicaragua S.A.’s gold processing plant and stated that Xinxin shipped over USD 25 million in gold to the United States in early to mid-2025. OFAC stated that all property and interests in property of designated persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC, and that entities owned 50 percent or more by blocked persons are also blocked. The release also flagged civil and criminal penalties, strict-liability civil enforcement, potential secondary sanctions exposure for foreign financial institutions facilitating significant transactions on behalf of designated persons, and the availability of FinCEN whistleblower awards where penalties exceed USD 1,000,000.
U.S. Department of the Treasury 2026-04-16
U.S. Department of the Treasury’s OFAC sanctions Nicaragua gold-sector companies and officials including two Ortega-Murillo sons
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed new sanctions on Nicaragua’s gold sector under Executive Order 13851, as amended by Executive Order 14088, targeting individuals and companies alleged to support the Murillo-Ortega regime, including entities linked to the 2025 occupation of BHMB Mining Nicaragua S.A.’s gold processing plant. All property and interests in property of designated persons in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are blocked, including entities 50 percent or more owned by blocked persons, with OFAC highlighting strict-liability civil enforcement and potential secondary sanctions for foreign financial institutions.