U.S. Treasury Department Wednesday Sanctions against four companies The company operates in Venezuela’s oil industry and listed four tankers as blocked property, saying the move targeted oil traders suspected of evading sanctions and financing the regime of Nicolás Maduro.

The Treasury Department said the vessels, some described as part of a “shadow fleet” serving Venezuela, “continue to provide financial resources that fuel Maduro’s illicit activities.” drug terror regime“In a press release on Tuesday.

“President Trump has made it clear: We will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while injecting deadly drugs into the United States,” the Treasury secretary said. Scott Bessant explain. “Treasury will continue President Trump’s pressure campaign on the Maduro regime,” he added.

The Treasury Department said the sanctions block property and interests in property of designated entities within U.S. jurisdiction and generally prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions involving those entities.

Venezuela accuses US of ‘piracy’ after seizing large oil tanker

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro attends a session of the National Assembly in Caracas on August 22, 2025. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)

Action follows America Measures against Venezuela’s state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

OFAC designated PDVSA in January 2019 under Executive Order 13850The Treasury Department said President Trump subsequently took additional steps to block PDVSA in August 2019 under Executive Order 13884.

The Treasury Department said Wednesday’s move was complementary Action announced on December 11 on 19 December targeting officials, colleagues and vessels associated with PDVSA.

US imposes oil blockade, second oil tanker seized near Venezuela

An oil tanker anchors in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, after loading crude oil at the Bajo Grande refinery port. (Josen bula urrutia/ucg/Universal Image Group/Getty Images)

OFAC designated Corniola Limited and Krape Myrtle Co LTD and listed the tanker NORD STAR as frozen property. OFAC also designated Winky International Limited and listed ROSALIND (also known as LUNAR TIDE) as frozen property. The Treasury Department said OFAC designated Aries Global Investment LTD as Aries Global Investment LTD and listed the DELLA and VALIANT oil tankers as frozen property.

Treasury says frozen property under U.S. jurisdiction must be reported to OFAC, warns Violation of U.S. Sanctions Civil or criminal penalties may result.

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Finance Minister Scott Bessant announced additional sanctions on Wednesday against actors linked to Maduro. (Stephanie Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The goal of the sanctions is to bring about positive changes in behavior, the Treasury Department said, noting that there is a formal process consistent with U.S. law for seeking removal from the OFAC list.