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Luis Raúl Toledo Carrejo: Complete Profile of the OFAC-Sanctioned Individual

Luis Raúl Toledo Carrejo is a Mexican citizen** born on 30 January 1959 who appears on the United States Treasury Department’s OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. The U.S. government placed Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo on this list because authorities believe he plays an important role in international narcotics trafficking. Many people first learn about Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo when they see his name during routine compliance checks or when reading about the famous Tijuana Cartel. This easy-to-read guide explains everything we know today in simple words. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQLfMVbDb4QF_ChCTgiqI38Iv8Tr0TYeGQl5NMHw9vlFQ&s image.

Who Is Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo?

Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo grew up in Mexico and later lived mainly in Tijuana, Baja California. Public records show he has used several addresses in that city over the years. Most people outside Mexico heard his name because he is married to Enedina Arellano Félix, one of the leaders of the Tijuana Cartel (also called the Arellano Félix Organisation or AFO). Enedina is often described as the first woman to run a major Mexican drug cartel, so the husband of such a person naturally receives close attention from law enforcement. The U.S. Department of the Treasury added Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo to the sanctions in the early 2000s under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (commonly called the Kingpin Act). This law lets the government freeze assets and stop U.S. citizens and companies from doing any business with people who help large drug trafficking groups. Once a name goes on the list, banks and businesses all over the world check for it during normal customer checks. https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1485781392/324768148_400x400.jpg image

Why Is Luis Raúl Toledo Carrejo on the Sanctions List?

The official reason is very clear: the United States believes Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo gives important help to the Tijuana Cartel. These businesses are also blocked, which means no one in the United States or many other countries can send money to them or buy from them.

Personal Details and Known Information

Here are the facts that appear on official watchlists today:

  • Full name: Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo (sometimes written Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo)
  • Date of birth: 30 January 1959
  • Place of birth: Mexico
  • Main city: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
  • Family connection: Husband of Enedina Arellano Félix
  • Nationality: Mexican details help banks and compliance teams make sure they identify the right person. Mistakes with similar names can cause big problems, so the exact date of birth and family link are very important.

What Does It Mean to Be Sanctioned?

When someone like Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo is on the OFAC sanctions list, several things happen automatically..Companies that do business in Tier 1 and Tier 2 countries run automatic checks every day. If the name Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo appears, the payment stops, and the compliance team investigates. This protects banks from huge fines and helps stop money flowing to criminal groups.

How Compliance Teams Use This Information

Every big bank, payment company, cryptocurrency exchange, and law firm has software that checks new customers against lists like OFAC. When the system finds Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo or close name matches, a human expert reviews the case. They look at date of birth, address history, and family connections to be 100 % sure. This process is called enhanced due diligence.For example, if a pharmacy in Mexico wants to open a U.S. dollar account, the bank will see the owner link to Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo and say no. The same thing happens with wire transfers, trade finance, or even simple credit card payments. The rules are strict because the fines for mistakes can reach millions of dollars1.

Connection to the Tijuana Cartel and Enedina Arellano Félix

The Tijuana Cartel became famous in the 1990s and early 2000s as one of the strongest drug trafficking groups in Mexico. After many of Enedina’s brothers were arrested or killed, she took more control of the family business. Reports say Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo stays in the background and helps with legal businesses that keep money moving. This is a common way cartels hide income – they open normal-looking shops, pharmacies, and real estate companies.Even though Enedina and Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo keep a low public profile compared to other cartel figures, intelligence agencies watch them closely. The sanctions against Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo are part of a larger U.S. strategy to cut the money supply to the cartel.

Current Status in 2025

As of November 2025, Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo remains on the active OFAC SDN list. No public information shows that the sanction has been lifted. The U.S. Treasury updates the list regularly, and his entry still carries the Kingpin Act label. Mexican authorities have not announced any arrest or charges against him that are visible in open sources, but sanctioned people often avoid travel to countries that cooperate with the United States. https://assets.realmadrid.com/is/image/realmadrid/ND-01-AMISTOSO-RACING-FERROL-CASTILLA_?$Desktop$&fit=wrap&wid=1440 image.

Tips for Compliance Officers and Researchers

If you work in compliance or research, here are simple steps to handle this name correctly2:

  1. Always check the exact date of birth (30 Jan 1959) to avoid false matches.
  2. Look for connections to Tijuana addresses and pharmacies.
  3. Remember the family link to Enedina Arellano Félix – this is a strong indicator.
  4. Use official sources only – OFAC, UN, EU, and UK lists are the most trusted.
  5. Document every check in case regulators ask later.These small habits keep your company safe and follow international rules.

Why This Name Appears in So Many Searches

Journalists, true-crime fans, and students often search for Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo when they study the Tijuana Cartel or powerful women in organized crime. Compliance software also creates millions of automatic searches every month. The name stays relevant because the Tijuana Cartel continues to operate, even if it is quieter than in the past.

FAQs

Who is Luis Raúl Toledo Carrejo?

Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo is a Mexican businessman born in 1959 who lives in Tijuana. He is best known as the husband of Enedina Arellano Félix, leader of the Tijuana Cartel. Because of this family connection and his own business activities, the U.S. government believes he helps the cartel and placed him on the sanctions list many years ago.

Why is Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo sanctioned by OFAC?

The United States Treasury Department added Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo to the Specially Designated Nationals list under the Kingpin Act. They say he gives material support to the Tijuana Cartel’s drug trafficking activities. His assets in the U.S. are frozen and Americans cannot do business with him.

Is Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo the same person as Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo?

Yes – the small spelling differences come from accent marks. OFAC and most lists use both versions, but they refer to the same individual born 30 January 1959 and married to Enedina Arellano Félix.

Can I do business with companies linked to Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo?

No. Any company or property connected to Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo is also blocked under the same sanctions. Banks and compliance systems will stop transactions automatically. Always run a fresh screening before any payment.

Has Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo ever been arrested?

There is no public record in 2025 showing an arrest or prison sentence for Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo. He remains on the active sanction target, which is separate from criminal charges.

Conclusion

Luis Raúl Toledo Carrejo remains an important name for anyone who works with sanctions screening, anti-money laundering checks, or research on Mexican organized crime. His place on the OFAC list since the early 2000s, combined with his marriage to Enedina Arellano Félix, makes him a high-risk individual under international financial rules. Banks, compliance teams, journalists, and researchers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Singapore, and all other major countries must continue to watch for this name in 2025 and beyond.Do you screen clients against sanctions lists in your work, or are you researching cartel history? Which part of Luis Raul Toledo Carrejo’s story interests you most?

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References & Official Sources

  1. OpenSanctions Profile → https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/NK-mKFnfhg3EAhNkv6t65hHXr/ ↩︎
  2. Lursoft Sanctions Database → https://sanctions.lursoft.lv/person/luis-raul-toledo-carrejo/ofac-7177 ↩︎

Noah

Noah is the voice behind Leatheling, where he explores the intersection of business, technology, and everyday living. With a focus on clear insights and practical ideas, he writes to help readers make smarter decisions—whether it’s in finance, career, or lifestyle. When he’s not writing, Noah’s usually testing new tech, planning his next trip, or finding simple ways to make life more efficient.

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