The United States has enacted fresh sanctions against four companies accused of operating within Venezuela's oil industry and engaging in sanction-evasion tactics connected to the trade of crude oil under Nicolás Maduro's regime.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has also identified four associated oil tankers as blocked property.
Announced on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, this move is part of the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Maduro, asserting that Venezuela's oil trade continues to fund the regime.
According to the official communication, OFAC has sanctioned the following entities:
- Corniola Limited and Krape Myrtle Co LTD, linked to the oil tanker NORD STAR (IMO: 9323596), noted for transporting Venezuelan oil.
- Winky International Limited, associated with the oil tanker ROSALIND, also known as LUNAR TIDE (IMO: 9277735), similarly implicated in transporting Venezuelan oil.
- Aries Global Investment LTD, connected to the oil tanker DELLA (IMO: 9227479), described as a transporter of Venezuelan crude, and also to the vessel VALIANT (IMO: 9409247), identified as blocked property due to the company's involvement.
The report mentions that some of these tankers are part of what is known as the "shadow fleet" or "ghost fleet," a term used to describe ships with obscure ownership that facilitate the movement of oil subject to sanctions.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent declared that the United States will not allow Maduro's "illegitimate regime" to profit from oil exports and that the Department will persist in its pressure campaign against Caracas, as stated in the document.
The Treasury Department also warned that those involved in Venezuelan oil trade "continue to face significant risks" of sanctions.
According to OFAC's explanation, this designation blocks all property and interests in property of the entities or assets within the United States or controlled by U.S. persons, prohibiting transactions with them unless authorized by general or specific licenses.
The document also highlights that non-compliance can lead to civil or criminal penalties, and third parties may face sanctions if they conduct certain transactions with the designated entities.
Earlier this month, Washington had already sanctioned other oil tankers linked to Venezuela, part of a strategy that included measures to hinder the movement of Venezuelan crude, which reportedly resulted in a decrease in exports during the month.
Implications of U.S. Sanctions on Venezuelan Oil Trade
What are the recent U.S. sanctions related to Venezuelan oil?
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on four companies and associated oil tankers for their involvement in Venezuelan oil trade, claiming these actions contribute to funding the Maduro regime.
How does the "ghost fleet" operate?
The "ghost fleet" refers to ships with unclear ownership that facilitate the transport of oil under sanctions, often employing tactics to evade detection and continue trading.