WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several family members and associates of the Maduro-Flores family. \u00a0This action further targets the narco-corruption structure that sustains Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s illegitimate regime, namely the familial networks of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores (Malpica Flores) and Ramon Carretero Napolitano (Ramon Carretero).<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, Treasury sanctioned individuals who are propping up Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s rogue narco-state. We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs,\u201d said\u00a0Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. \u00a0\u201cMaduro and his criminal accomplices threaten our hemisphere\u2019s peace and stability. The Trump Administration will continue targeting the networks that prop up his illegitimate dictatorship.\u201d<\/p>\n
SANCTIONING MADURO ASSOCIATES AND THEIR FAMILIES<\/p>\n
On December 11, 2025<\/a>, OFAC sanctioned Malpica Flores, a nephew of Maduro\u2019s wife Cilia Flores, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.)\u00a013692 for being a current or former official of the Government of Venezuela.\u00a0Malpica Flores, who has been repeatedly linked to corruption at Venezuela\u2019s state-run oil company, Petr\u00f3leos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), has leveraged his family connections for his transnational financial operations.<\/p>\n Today, OFAC is designating the following individuals pursuant to E.O. 13850 for being immediate adult family members of Malpica Flores, a person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, any transaction or series of transactions involving deceptive practices or corruption and the Government of Venezuela or projects or programs administered by the Government of Venezuela:\u00a0 Eloisa Flores de Malpica, Malpica Flores\u2019s mother and the sister of Cilia Flores; Carlos Evelio Malpica Torrealba, his father; Iriamni Malpica Flores, his sister; Damaris del Carmen Hurtado Perez, his wife; and Erica Patricia Malpica Hurtado, his adult daughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition, today\u2019s action builds on OFAC\u2019s December 11, 2025<\/a> designation of Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero by designating the following individuals pursuant to E.O. 13850 for being immediate family members of Ramon Carretero, a person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, any transaction or series of transactions involving deceptive practices or corruption and the Government of Venezuela or projects or programs administered by the Government of Venezuela:\u00a0 Roberto Carretero Napolitano and Vicente Luis Carretero Napolitano.\u00a0 Ramon Carretero has transacted extensively with the Maduro regime, including the family of Malpica Flores.\u00a0<\/p>\n SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS<\/p>\n As a result of today\u2019s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. \u00a0In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. \u00a0Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC\u2019s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.\u00a0<\/p>\n Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. \u00a0OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. \u00a0OFAC\u2019s\u00a0Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines<\/a>\u00a0provide more information regarding OFAC\u2019s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. \u00a0In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. \u00a0The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.\u00a0<\/p>\n The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC\u2019s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. \u00a0The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. \u00a0For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC\u2019s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List<\/a>.<\/p>\n