Washington – The United States Department of the Treasury announced on Friday, December 19, 2025, new sanctions targeting seven family members associated with individuals previously designated for supporting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's regime. The measures focus on relatives of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, a nephew of Maduro's wife Cilia Flores, and Panamanian businessman Ramón Carretero Napolitano, both sanctioned earlier in December for alleged corruption and deceptive practices involving the Venezuelan state.
The sanctioned individuals include:
- Eloisa Flores de Malpica (Malpica Flores's mother and Cilia Flores's sister, effectively Maduro's sister-in-law)
- Carlos Evelio Malpica Torrealba (father)
- Iriamni Malpica Flores (sister)
- Damaris del Carmen Hurtado Perez (wife)
- Erica Patricia Malpica Hurtado (adult daughter)
- Roberto Carretero Napolitano and Vicente Luis Carretero Napolitano (immediate family members of Carretero)
These actions, taken under Executive Order 13850, aim to disrupt networks accused of sustaining Maduro's administration through corruption. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas "Tommy" Pigott stated: “Maduro and his cronies have devastated Venezuela’s economy and continue to threaten our region’s stability.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the targets as part of a “narco-corruption structure” propping up Maduro's “rogue narco-state,” emphasizing the administration's commitment to denying financial lifelines to the regime.
This round follows December 11 sanctions on Malpica Flores himself (a former official at state oil company PDVSA) and Carretero, alongside earlier designations of other Maduro nephews linked to drug trafficking.
The announcements occur amid heightened U.S.-Venezuela tensions. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure through military buildup in the Caribbean, strikes on suspected drug vessels, and economic measures targeting Venezuela's oil sector—its primary revenue source.
On December 10, 2025, U.S. forces seized the oil tanker Skipper off Venezuela's coast, carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of crude. The operation, involving the Coast Guard, FBI, and military, was described by Attorney General Pam Bondi as targeting illicit networks. Venezuela condemned it as “international piracy.”
Subsequently, on December 16, Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating enforcement of existing sanctions. This has effectively halted many exports, with vessels remaining in Venezuelan waters to avoid interdiction.
Maduro's government rejects the accusations, portraying U.S. actions as attempts to seize Venezuela's vast oil reserves and undermine sovereignty. Caracas has mobilized defenses and sought international support against what it calls aggression.
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets of the designated individuals and prohibit U.S. persons from transactions with them. Analysts note limited direct financial impact on family members but symbolic pressure on Maduro's inner circle.
Critics, including some Democrats, have questioned the escalation's legality and potential for broader conflict, while supporters view it as necessary to counter alleged narcoterrorism and corruption.
The Trump administration signals further actions, including potential additional seizures and designations, as part of its campaign to isolate Maduro.
