The US Treasury Department announced that it has imposed sanctions on seven people it says are linked to Maduro and his wife.
Finance Minister Scott Bessent accused them of “supporting Nicolas Maduro’s renegade drug state”.
– We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs, Bessent said.
– Maduro and his criminal accomplices threaten the peace and stability of our hemisphere. The Trump administration will continue to target networks that support his illegitimate dictatorship, he added.
Venezuela’s information ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the situation.
Maduro and his government vehemently deny any involvement in crime and say the United States is trying to oust Maduro to take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
In recent months, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been increasing pressure on Maduro and has continued to build up significant military forces in the southern Caribbean.
Attacks were also carried out in the region on vessels suspected of transporting drugs, a sanctioned oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast was seized and a “blockade” was declared on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Trump has repeatedly pointed out that he will soon resort to strikes on Venezuela.
(Vijesti.ba)
