US Blacklists Six Venezuelan Tankers

The United States has blacklisted six tankers that were shipping Venezuelan crude oil from Venezuela to Cuba. 

The six vessels — Icaro, Luisa Caceres de Arismendi, Manuela Saenz, Paramaconi, Terepaima and Yare — have been identified as blocked property of Venezuela’s state-run oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), according to a statement issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Additionally, the Treasury Department also identified the vessel Esperanza as blocked property of Caroil Transport Marine which was sanctioned in September this year.

In January 2019, the U.S. imposed sanctions on PdVSA as part of further pressure on the government of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The measure is aimed at preventing further diverting of Venezuela’s assets by Maduro and the use of the oil firm in corrupt practices.

As explained, the latest action further targets the former Maduro regime’s corruption in the oil sector and the mechanisms used to transport oil to the Cuban regime in return for security and intelligence assistance, which is one of the remaining sources of support for the illegitimate former Maduro regime in Venezuela.

“Cuba and the former Maduro regime continue trying to circumvent sanctions by changing the names of vessels and facilitating the movement of oil from Venezuela to Cuba,” Justin Muzinich, Treasury Deputy Secretary, commented.

“The United States will continue to take necessary action to protect the people of Venezuela,” he added.