The US announced sanctions on three nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a Panamanian businessman, six shipping companies and six vessels accused of moving Venezuelan oil and using deceptive shipping tactics. Two nephews had previously been convicted in the US on drug charges and freed in a prisoner swap. The moves followed US seizure of an oil tanker Washington says was tied to an illicit oil network linked to Venezuela and Iran. Venezuela has condemned the seizure and filed a complaint with the International Maritime Organization.
US Sanctions Maduro’s Nephews and Shipping Network in Crackdown on Venezuelan Oil
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. - Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images
The United States on Thursday expanded sanctions targeting associates of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and elements of the country’s oil supply chain, announcing measures against three of Maduro’s nephews, a Panamanian businessman and multiple shipping firms and vessels alleged to have moved Venezuelan crude.
Details of the Measures
Two of the sanctioned nephews were previously convicted in the United States on drug-trafficking charges and later freed in a prisoner swap. The new actions also name a Panamanian businessman and six shipping companies accused of transporting Venezuelan oil in ways that helped fund Maduro’s government.
In a related move, the US Treasury identified six vessels it says engaged in “deceptive and unsafe shipping practices” that provided financial resources to Venezuela’s administration. Officials say these practices included circumvention of restrictions designed to prevent sanctioned oil flows.
Seizure and Reactions
These sanctions followed a US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast the previous day. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the vessel had been targeted by US authorities for several years for its role in what she described as an illicit oil-shipping network that supported foreign terrorist organizations and involved links to both Venezuela and Iran.
President Nicolás Maduro condemned the seizure, calling it 'a new era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean.'
The Venezuelan government filed a formal complaint Thursday with the International Maritime Organization to denounce the US action. The US Treasury and the Department of Justice say the combined measures are intended to disrupt revenue streams the Maduro government uses to sustain its operations.
CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government for comment. CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon contributed to this report.
