The US government today announced sanctions against four other Venezuelan officials whom it accuses of being implicated in "corruption and oppression," in this case directed against active or retired high military commanders.
The sanctions are the former Chavista minister and governor of the state of Aragua, retired General Rodolfo Clemente Marco Torres; the also retired general and ex-governor of Bolívar Francisco José Rangel Gómez; the division general of the Bolivarian National Guard Fabio Enrique Zavarse Pabon, and the Lieutenant General of the Army and Border Minister Gerardo José Izquierdo Torres.
The Treasury Department said that the inclusion of these people in the black list of the Office of Control of Foreign Assets (OFAC), highlights that "corruption and repression continue to flourish under the Maduro regime, both by those in current government positions as for former officials who continue to benefit from a corrupt system. "
"President (Nicolás) Maduro and his close circle continue to place their own interests above those of the Venezuelan people," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement announcing these new sanctions.
According to Mnichin, with these actions the Government of the United States underlines its intention to "hold Maduro and others involved in corruption in Venezuela responsible".
The Secretary of the Treasury also called on the international community to join the United States in its support "to the Venezuelan people to further isolate this oppressive regime"