New U.S. Sanctions Target Maduro’s Network

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Wednesday against four companies and four tankers that are said to assist Venezuela’s Maduro government in evading American oil sanctions.

Among these vessels are part of what’s referred to as Maduro’s shadow fleet. This fleet is increasingly relied upon by the regime to bypass U.S. restrictions and benefit from various destabilization activities.

OFAC specifically identified the vessels: nordstar, Rosalind (also known as moon tide), Della, and brave. Additionally, the agency sanctioned the companies associated with these ships, emphasizing that entities engaged in Venezuelan oil trading continue to face high risks of sanctions.

“President Trump has made it clear: We will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to flood the United States with deadly drugs while profiting from oil exports,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “The Treasury will persist in implementing President Trump’s pressure campaign against the Maduro regime.”

The new sanctions parallel those introduced during Trump’s first term, targeting Venezuela’s state-owned oil enterprise, PDVSA. In 2019, Trump sanctioned PDVSA and prohibited U.S. purchases of Venezuelan oil, responding to numerous human rights violations committed by the Maduro government. There were further actions aimed at blocking PDVSA’s activities.

OFAC noted that Wednesday’s actions build on other recent measures against Maduro’s regime, including sanctions against drug traffickers who are relatives of Nicolás Maduro and penalties against officials and vessels linked to PDVSA.

Recently, Trump’s administration has intensified its pressure on Maduro, especially after a U.S. court issued an indictment against him for multiple drug-terrorism charges.

Maduro is alleged to be a key figure in the Sunshine Cartel, which is an international cocaine trafficking network operated by high-ranking Venezuelan officials and military. There is currently a $50 million bounty offered for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.

In December, Trump declared a full blockade of all licensed oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. Since then, two tankers transporting oil from Venezuela have been detained by the U.S.

In response, Maduro criticized the blockade, likening it to a scene from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” He has accused the United States of using its military presence in international waters as a pretext for what he describes as an invasion aimed at toppling his government and seizing Venezuela’s resources.