U.S. Sanctions Venezuelan President Maduro's Family and Oil Tankers in New Crackdown
The U.S. government has imposed new sanctions targeting the family of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and six oil tankers. The sanctions focus on three nephews of Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, who were previously convicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. These individuals were released in a 2022 prisoner swap. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that the sanctions also apply to six crude oil tankers involved in deceptive shipping practices that support Maduro's regime. The tankers, flagged by Panama, the Cook Islands, and Hong Kong, recently loaded crude oil in Venezuela. Additionally, a Panamanian businessman, Ramon Carretero Napolitano, is sanctioned for facilitating oil shipments for the Venezuelan government. 
