US slaps new sanctions on Maduro family, Venezuelan oil shipping
01:19, 12/12/2025, FridayU: Update: 02:23, 12/12/2025, Friday
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File photoThe US Treasury has imposed fresh sanctions targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's inner circle and oil sector, including three of his wife's nephews. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Maduro's "criminal associates" of flooding the US with drugs, marking a sharp reversal from prior engagement efforts.
The United States Treasury Department announced a new set of sanctions on Thursday aimed at Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's close associates and key sectors of the country's economy. The measures specifically target individuals within Maduro's family circle and several companies involved in shipping Venezuelan oil, marking a significant escalation in US pressure on the Caracas government.
Targets: Family Members and Oil Shipping
The sanctions, enacted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), designate three nephews of Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, and a businessman linked to the president. Additionally, six shipping companies operating in Venezuela's crucial oil sector were sanctioned. OFAC also identified six vessels associated with these companies, accusing them of using "deceptive and unsafe" practices to provide financial support to Maduro's administration.
Official Accusations and Policy Shift
In a statement, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent levied severe accusations, stating, "Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people." He framed the sanctions as a reversal of the previous administration's policy