A day after seizing a sanctioned tanker that was probably transporting millions of dollars’ worth of oil off the coast of Venezuela, the US has announced new sanctions on shipping firms and ships it claims aid in the movement of Venezuelan oil, increasing pressure on a key ally of President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
The US Treasury’s sanctions list, which was made public on Thursday, also included the names of three nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, and another businessman connected to Maduro. Prior to their release in a prisoner exchange, two of the sanctioned nephews had been found guilty of drug trafficking in the United States.
According to the Treasury, the six ships were involved in “deceptive and unsafe shipping practices” that gave Maduro’s regime money. Four of the ships fly the flag of Panama. The other two fly the flag of Hong Kong and the Cook Islands.
The action intensifies the Trump administration’s months-long pressure campaign against Venezuela, which has included threats against Maduro, strikes on suspected drug boats, and the deployment of thousands of troops and a carrier strike group into the Caribbean.
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