Samark Jose Lopez Bello

Wanted Poster in English] [347 KB]
[Wanted Poster in Spanish] [344 KB]

NAME: Samark Jose Lopez Bello
ALIASES: “Sierra Lima”
DOB: July 27, 1974
POB: Caracas, Venezuela
NATIONALITY: Venezuelan
CITIZENSHIP: Venezuelan
HEIGHT: 5’10”
WEIGHT: 200 lbs
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Brown

On February 13, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC)
designated Tareck Zaidan El Aissami and Samark Jose Lopez Bello, both Venezuelan citizens, as Specially
Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) pursuant to the Kingpin Act for playing a significant role in
international narcotics trafficking. Lopez Bello was a derivative designation to El Aissami, and is
identified as an individual engaged in money laundering.

In May 2017, ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) initiated an investigation targeting Lopez Bello
and others for money laundering and evasion of OFAC sanctions in connection with Kingpin Act
designations, culminating in the filing of a True Bill of Indictment in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York (SDNY) on March 1, 2019. Subsequent investigation culminated in a
superseding SDNY indictment against Lopez Bello and others on March 13, 2020.

The indictments allege that, beginning in or about February 2017, Lopez Bello, worked with others to
violate and evade OFAC sanctions imposed pursuant to the Kingpin Act and related regulations. In
connection with efforts to violate and evade OFAC’s sanctions, Lopez Bello coordinated with U.S.
citizens/persons using U.S. based companies to charter private flights, for El Aissami and others, to
travel in and between, among other places, Venezuela, Russia, Turkey, and the Dominican Republic.

In violation of OFAC’s sanctions and related statutes and regulations, Lopez Bello and others paid U.S.
citizens/persons for private flights· and other flight-related services by, among other means, using
associates to deliver bulk cash in Caracas, Venezuela, that was smuggled into the United States.

The U.S. Department of State is offering a REWARD OF UP TO $5 MILLION for information leading to the
arrest and/or conviction of Samark Jose Lopez Bello for participating in transnational organized crime.

If you have information and are located outside of the United States, please contact the nearest U.S.
Embassy or Consulate. If in the United States, please contact the local HSI office in your city.

ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards.

TIPS:  CONTACT HSI AT +1-866-347-2423 OR BY EMAIL AT tareck.tips@ice.dhs.gov.