U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s remarks came after the Treasury Department classified Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah as a “specially designated narcotics trafficker.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, released this statement Tuesday (Feb. 14) regarding U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami and Venezuelan businessman Samark Lopez:

“The conditions in Venezuela have been deteriorating for several years and many Tampa Bay area families have been impacted. The corruption in the Maduro regime has eroded human rights and increased the struggles for everyday Venezuelans.  I welcome the news that the U.S. Treasury department has added Venezuelan Vice President Tarek El Aissami and Samark Lopez to its sanctions list for their role in international narcotics trafficking. We must ensure that the United States is not used as a safe haven for illicit assets and that we are working to help improve the humanitarian and political crisis in Venezuela.”

Castor’s statement was issued the day after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control “designated Venezuelan national Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah (El Aissami) as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking.  El Aissami is the Executive Vice President of Venezuela.  El Aissami’s primary frontman, Venezuelan national Samark Jose Lopez Bello (Lopez Bello), was also designated for providing material assistance, financial support, or goods or services in support of the international narcotics trafficking activities of, and acting for or on behalf of, El Aissami.  OFAC further designated or identified as blocked property 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other designated parties that comprise an international network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela.

“As a result of [Monday’s] action, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions or otherwise dealing with these individuals and entities, and any assets the individuals and entities may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.”

For a copy of the Treasury Department’s announcement, go to treasury.gov.

For information about Castor, go to castor.house.gov.

Kathy Castor | Venezuelan Sanctions | El Aissami | Tampa Bay Reporter

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