CaliToday (12/12/2025): The United States Department of the Treasury officially declared economic war on the inner circle of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro this Thursday. In a decisive move, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned three of Maduro’s nephews and a network of shadow oil companies, accusing them of fueling a "narco-terrorist" regime that threatens American security.
The sanctions mark a sharp pivot under the Trump administration, explicitly aiming to reverse previous diplomatic attempts to engage with Caracas.
1. The Return of the "Narco-Nephews"
At the center of the sanctions are Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas—infamously known as the "Narco-Nephews" of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores.
Their inclusion in the sanctions list highlights a controversial chapter in US-Venezuela relations:
The History: The pair was originally arrested in a DEA sting operation in Haiti in 2015 while attempting to traffic hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the United States. They were convicted and imprisoned in the U.S.
The Pardon: In October 2022, in a move that sparked widespread outrage, then-President Joe Biden granted them clemency (a pardon) as part of a prisoner swap.
The Recidivism: US officials now allege that the mercy shown was wasted. Intelligence indicates that immediately upon returning to Venezuela, the nephews resumed their involvement in illicit drug trafficking operations through 2025.
A third nephew, Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, was also sanctioned. Unlike his cousins, Malpica Flores operates in the financial shadows, having served as a former National Treasurer and a high-ranking executive at PDVSA (the state oil company), where he allegedly facilitated the regime's looting of national wealth.
2. "Reversing Failed Policies": The Administration's Stance
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not mince words regarding the motivation behind the new measures. He framed the sanctions as a necessary correction to the previous administration's strategy.
"Nicolás Maduro and his accomplices are flooding our streets with narcotics, poisoning American citizens," Secretary Bessent stated. "These sanctions reverse the failed efforts of the Biden administration to negotiate with a dictator—efforts that only served to strengthen his brutal grip on power. Under President Trump, we are holding this regime and its cronies accountable for years of crimes."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this hardline sentiment, emphasizing that the "Narco-Nephews" must pay for their crimes against the American people and for destabilizing the Western Hemisphere.
3. Sinking the "Shadow Fleet"
Beyond the family members, OFAC targeted the regime's financial lifeline: oil.
Six shipping companies and their vessels were sanctioned for operating a "shadow fleet." These entities are accused of:
Deceptive Practices: Manipulating GPS signals and turning off transponders to hide their locations.
Illicit Trade: Transporting Venezuelan crude oil to buyers in Asia to bypass international embargoes.
By targeting these logistics networks, the Treasury aims to choke off the revenue streams that allow Maduro to maintain loyalty among his military and security forces.