FORMER PARAGUAYAN PRESIDENT HORACIO CARTES SAYS US HAS REMOVED SANCTIONS AGAINST HIM. (PHOTO).

 Former Paraguayan president Horacio Cartes says US has removed sanctions against him

Former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes announced that the United States has lifted sanctions imposed on him by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) following more than two years of investigations into alleged corruption.

Cartes and several of his companies were removed from the OFAC list of “specially designated nationals,” which had originally targeted him over accusations of “rampant corruption that undermines democratic institutions.” Cartes, who also leads Paraguay’s ruling Colorado Party, said he received the news “with humility and satisfaction” and declared that “justice has been done today.” He thanked the U.S. government for acting “with objectivity and a sense of justice” and specifically credited the administration of President Donald Trump for reviewing the merits of his defense.

Paraguay’s ambassador to the United States, Gustavo Leite, praised the decision and expressed support for Cartes, noting that justice has been served and emphasizing plans to work on a “shared prosperity agenda” between Paraguay and the U.S. Cartes had been added to the sanctions list in January 2023 under the Global Magnitsky program, which allows the U.S. to freeze assets and block financial transactions of individuals accused of corruption or human rights abuses.

The original designation accused Cartes of engaging in widespread corruption that undermined Paraguay’s democratic institutions and affected several companies tied to his business group, including Tabacos USA Inc. and Frigorífico Chajhá, whose assets were frozen under U.S. jurisdiction. In 2022, the U.S. also revoked Cartes’ visa over alleged “significant acts of corruption.” Additional affiliated firms, including Tabacalera del Este (Tabesa), were added to the sanctions in August 2024.

In his announcement, Cartes said his “name has been cleared” and called the decision an opportunity to continue serving Paraguay alongside those “who believe in a better future” while contributing to the “historic friendship” between Paraguay and the United States.