U.S. slaps sanctions on 2 Venezuelan individuals

The U.S. Treasury announced on Thursday that it has imposed sanctions on one former and one current Venezuelan officials for their alleged corruption.

A Venezuelan national flag flies at its Embassy to the United States in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC, January 24, 2019. [Photo: IC]

The latest move designated former Venezuelan Electricity Minister Luis Alfredo Motta Dominguez and the country's Deputy Minister of Finance Eustiquio Jose Lugo Gomez, said the Treasury in a statement.

Motta was removed from his position by incumbent Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro following nationwide blackouts in March.

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of those individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked.

The United States has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Venezuelan government in support of the opposition leader Juan Guaido. The Trump administration recognized Guaido as Venezuela's "interim president" on Jan. 23, days after Maduro was inaugurated for a second term.

In March, Venezuela suffered two rounds of widespread blackouts after the country's main Guri hydroelectric plant was sabotaged, followed by schools and offices shutdown.