The United States imposed new sanctions Friday on family members and close associates linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, expanding U.S. pressure on Venezuela’s leadership, the US Treasury Department said.
The measures target seven individuals connected to networks Washington says help sustain Maduro’s government. Altitude Post reached out to Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry for comment. The claims could not be independently verified, and Venezuelan authorities have not commented publicly.
Why It Matters
The sanctions mark a further tightening of U.S. economic pressure on Venezuela as Washington seeks to disrupt financial and political networks tied to Maduro’s rule. The move comes amid broader U.S. efforts to curb drug trafficking, enforce sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, and influence negotiations over Venezuela’s political future.
The action also intersects with ongoing legal proceedings involving Citgo Petroleum, Venezuela’s most valuable foreign asset, underscoring how sanctions policy and creditor claims continue to shape U.S.–Venezuela relations.
What To Know
The Treasury Department said the newly sanctioned individuals are linked to Venezuelan government networks that support Maduro and Flores. Treasury officials accused those targeted of enabling corruption and drug trafficking tied to the Venezuelan state—allegations the Maduro government has repeatedly denied.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions are designed to block the financial operations of individuals who “enable corruption and drug trafficking,” and to prevent Venezuela from sending illegal drugs into U.S. communities, according to the department’s statement.
Among those targeted are relatives of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, a nephew of Cilia Flores who was sanctioned earlier for alleged involvement in a corruption scheme at Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA. The new measures extend sanctions to members of Malpica Flores’ immediate family, significantly broadening their scope.
Separately, Treasury extended a general license shielding Citgo Petroleum, a Venezuela-owned refiner based in Houston, from creditor actions until Feb. 3. The license temporarily blocks transactions involving a Venezuela-issued bond backed by Citgo equity, allowing the company to continue operating during ongoing court proceedings.
A U.S. judge has approved the sale of shares in Citgo’s parent company, PDV Holding, to an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management as part of a court-supervised auction aimed at compensating creditors over Venezuela-linked debt defaults and expropriations.
Explicit caveat: The U.S. Treasury has not released public evidence detailing the specific alleged activities of each sanctioned individual. Venezuelan authorities have denied involvement in criminal networks and say U.S. sanctions are politically motivated.
What People Are Saying
Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, said the sanctions are intended to “block the operations of those who enable corruption and drug trafficking” linked to Venezuela’s leadership, according to the Treasury Department.
Venezuelan officials have previously said U.S. sanctions are an attempt to undermine Maduro’s government and seize control of the country’s oil resources, though no immediate response was issued following Friday’s announcement.
What Happens Next
U.S. sanctions on the newly designated individuals take immediate effect, freezing any assets under U.S. jurisdiction and barring transactions with U.S. entities. Treasury officials are expected to review the Citgo license again ahead of its February expiration as court proceedings over the company continue.
