The United States has imposed sanctions on six Venezuelan shipping companies and six vessels, as well as President Nicolas Maduro’s three nephews, as part of its ongoing pressure campaign against the Maduro government. The US Treasury Department accused the blacklisted companies and vessels of operating in Venezuela’s oil sector and aiding the “corrupt narco-terrorist regime.”

The sanctions come amid US President Donald Trump’s accusations that the Maduro government is helping cartels smuggle drugs into the US, a claim Maduro has denied. The Venezuelan president has stated that the US is using the allegations as a pretext for an attempt at regime change.

The blacklisted ships and companies are involved in the transportation of oil, and the US Treasury Department claims that they are supporting the Maduro government’s alleged illicit activities. Two of Maduro’s nephews, who were previously sentenced in the US on drug-trafficking charges and released in 2022 as part of a prisoner swap, have also been sanctioned.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the new restrictions demonstrate the US commitment to “holding the regime and its circle of cronies and companies accountable for its continued crimes.” The US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, dispatching a naval armada to the region and striking over 20 alleged drug boats in international waters since September.

The Venezuelan government has responded to the US military buildup by placing its army on high alert and conducting several drills. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for Venezuela’s resolve to “defend national interests and sovereignty against foreign pressure” in a phone call with Maduro on Thursday.

The US Coast Guard recently boarded a tanker off the Venezuelan coast that had previously been sanctioned for allegedly transporting oil to Iran. The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as “a blatant act of piracy” and accused the US of seeking to “plunder” its natural resources.

The latest sanctions and military actions are part of a broader campaign by the US to pressure the Maduro government, which has been accused of human rights abuses, corruption, and authoritarianism. The situation continues to escalate, with Venezuela’s relations with the US and other countries remaining tense.