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Washington — The United States has imposed sanctions on four companies and associated oil tankers it says have ties to Venezuela, in the latest escalation against the South American nation.
The Treasury Department said In a statement Wednesday, the latest wave of sanctions targets oil traders and ships that it says help support President Nicolas Maduro’s regime.
“President Trump has been clear: we will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while it floods the United States with deadly drugs.” » Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “The Treasury Department will continue to implement President Trump’s pressure campaign on the Maduro regime.”
The State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, said Wednesday that the United States sanctioned these entities “for operating illegally in Venezuela’s oil sector.”
“The Trump administration is also blocking four associated oil tankers, which are part of a shadow fleet that funds the illegitimate and corrupt regime of Nicolas Maduro and allows Maduro and his cronies to evade sanctions,” Pigott said in a statement.
Earlier this month, Mr. Trump called for a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, and the United States seized two sanctioned vessels as the army increases its presence in the region.
The Trump administration’s pressure campaign on Venezuela has included dozens of deadly strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats in the region. Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to carry out ground strikes against Venezuela, said The United States last week “destroyed” a “major facility” linked to alleged drug trafficking operations, but its administration has provided few details about it.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they were loading the boats with drugs,” Mr. Trump told reporters Monday in Florida.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of drug trafficking and collaboration with gangs designated by the United States as terrorist organizations — which Maduro denies.
