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The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on four companies operating in Venezuela’s oil sector and designated four oil tankers as blocked property. This move is part of a new effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The sanctions, announced yesterday, target four companies and associated oil tankers accused of involvement in transporting Venezuelan oil.
Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a “narco-terrorist” regime aimed at destabilizing the United States. According to the official notice, some of these vessels are part of Venezuela’s clandestine fleet and provide financial resources to Maduro’s illegitimate narco-terrorist regime.
“President Trump has made it clear that we will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while it floods the United States with deadly drugs,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement.
The statement added, “The Treasury Department will continue to implement President Trump’s campaign of pressure on the Maduro regime.” Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of running what he calls a “narco-terrorist” regime aimed at destabilizing the United States. This claim was reiterated in the announcement of the recently imposed sanctions.
