Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, February 14, 2017
WASHINGTON, United States – The United States of American has blocked properties of Vice President of Venezuela, Tareck El-Aissami for his involvement in drug peddling and activities related to corruption.
In addition to freezing his properties anywhere the United States has jurisdiction, all citizens of the United State are also prohibited from having any financial or business dealings with him and his organisations.
The U.S made the announcement at a teleconference by senior officials of the U.S Treasury department.
“Specifically, today, OFAC designated Venezuela national Tareck El Aissami Maddah for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking”, officials said.
El Aissami was appointed executive vice president of Venezuela in January 2017 and he previously served as governor of the Venezuelan state of Aragua and minister of interior and justice in Venezuela.
According to the U.S, El Aissami facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan air base as well as control of drug routes through the ports of Venezuela.
“El Aissami oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including shipments to Mexico and to the United States. In addition to his own direct narcotics trafficking activities, El Aissami facilitated, coordinated, and protected other national – other narcotics traffickers operating in Venezuela”, the U.S said.
He was designated along with his frontman, Lopez Bello.
“In addition, today OFAC is also designating a key frontman for El Aissami, Samark Jose Lopez Bello. Lopez Bello oversees an international network of petroleum distribution, engineering, telecommunications, and asset holding companies. Lopez Bello launders drug proceeds and is used by El Aissami to purchase certain assets. Lopez Bello also handles business arrangements in financial matters for El Aissami, generating significant profits as a result of illegal activity benefiting El Aissami”, officials of Treasury Department said.
Officials made it clear that “as a result of today’s action, any property or interest in property of these individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. This means that among other activities, U.S. persons are going to be – are generally prohibited from engaging in financial transactions or other business dealings with the blocked individuals and entities identified today”, the department said.
It added that the designation is not a reaction to El Aissami’s role as executive vice president of Venezuela.
“The designation is a result of a years-long investigation of narcotics trafficking by OFAC. The designation is not aimed at Venezuela or any specific sectors of the Venezuelan economy, but rather is specifically targeted against individuals engaged in narcotics trafficking and the international network of companies that they manage and through which they launder their illicit proceeds”, the officials said,
