The United States announced this Thursday new sanctions against several family members and associates from the entourage of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as part of his efforts to dismantle what he described as a “narco-corruption” network that supports the Venezuelan government.
The measure, announced by the Treasury Ministry, specifically targets the direct relatives of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, nephew of the Venezuelan first lady, Flores Eyelasheswhich had already been sanctioned on December 11.
Also to the relatives of the Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero Napolitanolinked to financial operations with Maduro’s executive.
Malpica Flores’ relatives include her mother (and sister of the first lady), Eloisa Flores de Malpica, her father, Carlos Evelio Malpica Torrealba, or her sister, Iriamni Malpica Flores.
Also his wife, Damaris del Carmen Hurtado Pérezand his adult daughter, Erica Patricia Malpica Hurtado.
In total, the United States sanctioned seven people, accusing them of being responsible or complicit in “corrupt transactions” within the government of Venezuela or public programs or projects.
This measure prohibits individuals or businesses in the United States from carry out transactions with those sanctioned, in addition to freezing any assets or properties they may have in the North American country.
The announcement comes a little more than a week after Washington sanction three nephews of Madurowhom he accuses of having links to drug trafficking.
In addition to Erik Malpica Flores, the Treasury included Efraín Antonio Campo Flores and Efraín Antonio Campo Flores on the sanctions list. Francisco Flores de Freitasall linked to Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores.
Campo Flores and Flores de Freitas, known as the “narco-nephews”, They were arrested in Haiti in 2015 on drug trafficking charges and convicted in the United States in 2016.
The previous administration of Joe Biden pardoned them in October 2022 as part of an exchange with the government of Nicolas Maduro and they returned to Venezuela, from where, according to Washington, they resumed their drug trafficking activities in 2025.
These three measures are part of a battery of sanctions from the Donald Trump administration which affects Venezuela’s oil sector, including a businessman and six shipping companies, and blocking six ships.
Washington intensified its actions this week against the Maduro government, which calls it “narco-dictatorship”. This Tuesday, Trump ordered the entry and exit of Venezuela of all oil tankers sanctioned by the United States, a week after seizing a ship loaded with crude oil near the Venezuelan coast.
The move comes on top of the growing US military presence in the Caribbean, including the bombing of more than 30 suspected drug boats leaving Venezuela or Colombia that have left the country. more than 100 dead.
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