New U.S. Sanctions Hit Venezuela Following Oil Tanker Seizure

The United States on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and six companies involved in shipping Venezuelan oil. 

The move comes after the seizure of the oil tanker ‘Skipper’ off the Venezuelan coast, which will be brought to a U.S. port. Video from the raid showed U.S. troops descending onto the vessel by rope from helicopters, an operation Maduro condemned as “an act of international piracy.”

Among those sanctioned are three nephews of First Lady Cilia Flores, two of whom were previously convicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and labelled “narco-traffickers operating in Venezuela.”

Reuters reports that the U.S. is preparing to seize more tankers carrying Venezuelan crude. Around 30 vessels are currently under sanctions, and many could be forced to stay in port to avoid confiscation.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been increasing pressure on Venezuela for months. A major U.S. naval presence in the region has been paired with deadly strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking.