The U.S.Treasury Department announced a new round of sanctions Dec. 11 targeting relatives and associates of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, further escalating a long-standing conflict between the two nations. The sanctions, stemming from allegations of drug trafficking, corruption, and undermining of democratic processes, now extend to immediate family members of a previously sanctioned Maduro nephew [[2]]. This action comes amid increased U.S.military presence in the Caribbean seeking to disrupt alleged drug shipments and a $50 million reward offered for data leading to Maduro’s capture.
The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting family members and associates of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, escalating tensions with the South American nation. The move comes as Washington continues to pressure Maduro’s government over allegations of drug trafficking and corruption.
Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, a nephew of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who was previously arrested and convicted of narcotics offenses in the U.S. before being released in a prisoner exchange, was re-sanctioned on December 11. Now, the U.S. Treasury Department has extended the sanctions to include his mother, father, wife, sister, and daughter.
“These individuals are propping up Nicolás Maduro’s criminal narco-state,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a released statement.
“We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs,” Bessent added.
The U.S. government accuses Maduro of leading the so-called “Cartel de los Soles,” a purported organization with ties to the Venezuelan military, allegedly involved in drug trafficking and support for criminal groups both within and outside Venezuela. The development underscores the U.S.’s firm stance against what it considers a significant threat to regional security.
Washington has also increased the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to $50 million.
In addition to the financial sanctions, the U.S. is conducting an unprecedented military campaign against vessels it alleges are transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. While Washington has not provided public evidence to support these claims, the operations have reportedly resulted in over 100 deaths.
The U.S. has also seized a sanctioned tanker carrying Venezuelan crude oil.
A separate legal case against Maduro is also open in the Southern District of New York, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who highlighted the ongoing legal proceedings during a press conference Friday.
Rubio asserted that the U.S. will not be deterred in its efforts to block Venezuelan oil tankers.
Beyond the relatives of Maduro’s nephew, the Treasury Department also sanctioned Panamanian lawyer Ramón Carretero on December 11. Two of Carretero’s family members, Roberto Carretero Napolitano and Vicente Luis Carrtero Napolitano, have now been added to the sanctions list, though their specific relationship to the lawyer was not detailed in the official statement.
