US Expands Sanctions on Maduro’s Nephews and Business Associates

The United States has announced a new round of sanctions targeting three nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and a Panamanian businessman, amidst ongoing efforts to exert pressure on the Maduro regime. On December 12, 2023, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Franqui Flores, Carlos Flores, and Efrain Campo, alongside Ramon Carretero, who is accused of facilitating oil shipments for the Venezuelan government.

This latest action comes on the heels of a U.S. operation that intercepted and seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The sanctions also encompass six companies and six oil vessels flagged under Venezuela. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) provided a detailed list of the measures, which will block access to any assets these individuals or entities hold within the United States.

U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the sanctioned parties, with violations potentially leading to severe penalties. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the Venezuelan government, stating, “Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people.” He emphasized the commitment of the U.S. government to hold accountable those associated with the regime.

The sanctions follow a complex history involving Maduro’s family. In October 2022, Venezuela released seven imprisoned Americans in exchange for the U.S. freeing Flores and Campo, who had been convicted in New York in 2016 for narcotics trafficking. Their arrest stemmed from a sting operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Haiti in 2015. Carlos Flores had previously been on the U.S. sanctions list in 2017, but was removed in 2022 as part of the Biden administration’s attempt to encourage dialogue over democratic reforms in Venezuela.

The timing of these sanctions aligns with a series of U.S. military operations targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Since September 2023, these operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 87 individuals. Former President Donald Trump referred to these actions as a “necessary escalation” in the fight against drug trafficking, characterizing the U.S. stance as being in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

As the U.S. intensifies its approach to the Maduro regime, the implications of these sanctions and military operations are likely to reverberate through both Venezuelan society and international diplomatic efforts. This latest round of sanctions underscores the ongoing tensions between the United States and Venezuela, highlighting the complexities of international relations in the context of drug trafficking and human rights concerns.