TITLE: United States Treasury Department Sanctions Nicaragua-Related Government Officials and Gold Mining Firms
BODY:
On April 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Nicaragua-related General License 5, "Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Exportadora de Metales Sociedad Anonima," and updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).
OFAC added seven individuals to the SDN List, including Santiago Hernan Bermudez Tapia, Anibal Vladimir Matus Buitrago, Lester Matus Tamariz, Daniel Edmundo Ortega Murillo, Maurice Facundo Ortega Murillo, Nelson Francisco Sobalvarro, and Feiwu Bian. The individuals designated are based in Nicaragua or have connections to Nicaragua, with one individual holding Chinese nationality.
OFAC also designated six mining and quarrying entities to the SDN List: Brother Metal S.A., Exportadora de Metales Sociedad Anonima (EMSA), Grupo Minero Xiloa S.A. (GRUMIXSA), Nicaragua Xinxin Linze Mineria Group S.A., Santa Rita Mining Company S.A., Thomas Metal S.A., and Zhong Fu Development S.A. All entities are based in Managua, Nicaragua, and operate in the mining of non-ferrous metal ores and related sectors. EMSA, the primary subject of the general license, was established on October 19, 2019, and operates under multiple identification numbers within Nicaragua's regulatory framework.
The designations target individuals and entities linked to the Nicaraguan regime and those involved in activities related to seizing U.S.-owned property. The general license permits the wind-down of existing transactions with EMSA, allowing entities to complete ongoing dealings within a specified timeframe before full compliance with sanctions restrictions takes effect.
REFERENCES:
Office of Foreign Assets Control. (2026, April 16). Nicaragua-related Designations; Issuance of Nicaragua-related General License. Retrieved from https://ofac.treasury.gov/