The United States has expanded sanctions against close relatives and associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, intensifying pressure on his inner circle over allegations of drug trafficking and corruption.
The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on seven individuals connected to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The measures include several family members of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, Flores’ nephew, who was sanctioned last week for his alleged role in a corruption scheme at Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action was aimed at curbing narcotics flows and financial wrongdoing linked to the Maduro network. “We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs,” he said, calling the regime and its associates a threat to regional stability.
According to US officials, the latest sanctions target Malpica Flores’ immediate family members, including his parents, sister, wife, and daughter, further tightening restrictions around individuals accused of benefiting from corruption tied to Venezuela’s oil sector.
The move comes as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas. In recent months, the Trump administration has increased military deployments in the southern Caribbean, struck suspected drug-smuggling vessels, seized a sanctioned oil tanker, and enforced a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments. President Trump has also warned of possible land strikes, signaling readiness to escalate actions against the Maduro government.
Separately, the Treasury extended a temporary general license protecting Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum from creditor claims through February 3, a shorter extension than the previous six-month protections. Citgo, a US-based refiner and subsidiary of PDV Holding, has been shielded during court-supervised auctions tied to Venezuelan-linked debts. In November, a US judge approved the sale of PDV Holding shares to an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management for $5.9 billion, pending Treasury approval.
Venezuela’s government has consistently denied any involvement in criminal activity, accusing Washington of using sanctions to seize control of the country’s vast oil reserves. No immediate response was issued by Venezuela’s information ministry following the latest sanctions announcement.
