Washington announced a fresh round of sanctions Thursday targeting individuals and entities connected to Venezuela’s First Lady, escalating pressure on the maduro regime as the nation continues to grapple with political and economic instability[[1]]. the sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans, come amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and follow the recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker[[2]].This action highlights the ongoing, complex relationship between the two countries, marked by previous diplomatic efforts-including prisoner exchanges-and continued attempts by the U.S. to influence political change in Venezuela[[3]].
The United States announced new sanctions Thursday, December 11, 2025, targeting three nephews of Venezuela’s First Lady Cilia Flores, alongside six oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them. The move comes as Washington increases its military presence in the Caribbean and President Donald Trump continues to advocate for the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.
The sanctions follow the U.S. seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast on Wednesday, with Trump announcing the vessel will be brought to a U.S. port and its oil cargo confiscated. This latest action signals a continued escalation of pressure on the Maduro regime amid ongoing political and economic turmoil in Venezuela.
“Narcosobrinos” Previously Detained, Convicted, and Later Released
According to internal documents from the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, the sanctioned tankers recently loaded crude oil in Venezuela. The vessels include the H. Constance, built in 2002, and the Lattafa, built in 2003, which fly the flag of Panama. Two other tankers are registered in the Cook Islands and Hong Kong.
Also sanctioned were Franqui Flores and Efraín Campo Flores, known as the “narcosobrinos” after their 2015 arrest in Haiti during a DEA undercover operation. Carlos Erik Malpica Flores was also added to the sanctions list.
The two nephews were convicted in 2016 for attempting to facilitate a large-scale cocaine deal and sentenced to 18 years in prison. However, they were released in 2022 during the Biden administration as part of a prisoner exchange that secured the release of seven U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela. The development underscores the complex diplomatic maneuvering surrounding U.S.-Venezuela relations.
The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks and potentially impact Venezuela’s oil exports.
rr reuters/afp
