The United States issued sanctions against officials tied to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 10 and increased its reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the leader and two of his ministers.
Maduro took office on Jan. 10 for a third term despite a disputed election that critics, including the United States, say was not done with integrity.
Those sanctioned included Transportation Minister Ramon Celestino Velasquez, who is also the president of the Venezuelan Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services; Felix Ramon Osorio, vice minister of Interior Policy and Legal Security of the Interior Ministry; and Hector Andres Obregon, president of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PdVSA.
Also targeted were Danny Ramon Ferrer, vice minister of the Integrated System of Penal Investigations of Venezuela’s Interior Ministry, which includes overseeing the Scientific, Penal, and Criminal Investigations Corps (CICPC); as well as the corps’ Director Douglas Arnoldo Rico and Deputy Director Jhonny Rafael Salazar.
CICPC, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, “has reportedly committed systematic human rights abuses in Venezuela, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests.”
Additionally sanctioned were Manuel Enrique Castillo, deputy commander of the Strategic Operations Command (CEOFANB) of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela; and Jose Ramon Figuera, the commander of the Integral Defense Zone for the Venezuelan capital district.
The CEOFANB, according to the Treasury Department, “oversees the repression tactics carried out by the FANB.”
“Under Figuera’s leadership, the capital district has reportedly experienced the highest levels of arbitrary detentions against protesters since the July 28, 2024, election,” said the department.
Those sanctioned will freeze any of the targets’ assets in the United States.
Furthermore, the United States’ reward was increased to up to $25 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s minister of interior, justice, and peace.
The United States also issued a reward of up to $15 million for Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.
U.S. visa restrictions were implemented against Maduro-tied officials “who have undermined the electoral process in Venezuela and are responsible for acts of repression,” said the Treasury Department.
“The United States, together with our like-minded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people’s vote for new leadership and rejects Maduro’s fraudulent claim of victory,” he continued.
