Ramirez Abadia was named by OFAC as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker in August 2000. Abadia was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges in Colorado in 1994 and in the Eastern District of New York in 1995 and 2004. In 2004, Colombia's North Valle drug cartel was indicted in the District of Columbia under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Ramirez Abadia was identified in the indictment as one of the cartel's leaders. OFAC worked closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York in the investigation leading up to today's action. Abadia remains in Brazilian custody following his capture in August 2007.

Ten of the companies designated today are located in Colombia:

• LA HOLANDA S.A., Calle 23C No. 3BISN-26, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 805025864-5 (Colombia) is a veterinary products company in Cali controlled by German Rosero Angulo, a key lieutenant for Ramirez Abadia.
• A K DIFUSION S.A. PUBLICIDAD Y MERCADEO, Calle 28N No. 6BN-54, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 900015699-8 (Colombia) a consulting company in Cali controlled by Alfonso Barrera Rios, Alvaro Enrique Barrera Rios, and Victoria Eugenia Barrera Rios
• A K EDUCAL S.A. EDUCACION CON CALIDAD, Calle 28N No. 6BN-54, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 900015704-7 (Colombia)
• ADMINISTRACION DE RECURSOS FINANCIEROS E.U. (a.k.a. AFIN E.U.), Calle 20N No. 6AN-19 ofc. 67-68, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 805013294-5 (Colombia)
• ARTURO QUINONEZ LTDA. (a.k.a. RESTAURANTE SANTA COLOMBIA), Calle 10 No. 46-120, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 900093492-3 (Colombia)
• B R C S.A. (a.k.a. BARRERA RIOS CAMACHO ADMINISTRACION Y FINANZAS S.A.), Calle 28N No. 6BN-54, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 900021843-7 (Colombia)
• COMERCIALIZADORA CGQ LTDA. (a.k.a. CENTROPARTES CALI), Carrera 18 No. 9-24, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 805029062-3 (Colombia)
• PROMOTORES DE BIENES RAICES S.A. (a.k.a. PROMOBIENES S.A.), Calle 20N No. 6AN-19 ofc. 67, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 805001651-1 (Colombia)
• RIOS JIMENEZ S. EN C.S., Carrera 18 No. 38-35, Bogota, Colombia; NIT # 830007478-1 (Colombia)

• SERPROVIS S.A. SERVICIOS Y PROVISIONES, Calle 28N No. 6BN-54, Cali, Colombia; NIT # 900023730-2 (Colombia)

Two of the companies designated today are located in Spain:

• VALERO Y ASOCIADOS GABINETE JURIDICO S.L., Paseo Alameda, 60, Valencia 46023, Spain; C.I.F. B97393029  is a legal services company in Valencia controlled by Luis Hernan Valero Jimenez, a long-time attorney and front person for Ramirez Abadia
• GRUPO INVERSOR PRINCIPE DE VERGARA S.L., Calle Jarilla, 5 - Pis 4 B, Madrid 28043, Spain; C.I.F. B84758374 is a real estate company in Madrid controlled by one of Ramirez Abadia's closest associates, Mauricio Arturo Espitia Ortiz

These new companies are in addition to the previous companies:

• Disdrogas Ltda.the Colombian pharmaceutical distribution company  and Ramirez Abadia's parents, who were managing the company on his behalf.
• Criadero Santa Gertrudis S.A. a Columbian paso fino horse breeding farm
• Cambios y Capitales S.A. a major Columbian currency exchange and money remittance company