According to the announcement made earlier this week, the four companies provided ships to deliver Venezuelan oil to Cuban interests.
The companies were listed as Caroil Transport Marine of Cyprus, Trocana World of Panama, Tovase Development Corp of Panama and Bluelane Overseas of Panama.
Caroil is the operator of the product tankers ‘Carlota C’, ‘Sandino’ and ‘Petion’, which allegedly delivered Venezuelan oil products or crude to oil trader Cubametales this year. Bluelane Overseas is the owner of the crude tanker ‘Giralt’, which allegedly delivered Venezuelan oil to Cuba, while Trocana and Tovase own the ‘Petion’ and ‘Sandino’, respectively.
“The United States continues to take strong action against the former illegitimate Maduro regime and the malign foreign actors who support it. Maduro’s Cuban benefactors provide a lifeline to the regime and enable its repressive security and intelligence apparatus,” said Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin. “Venezuela’s oil belongs to the Venezuelan people, and should not be used as a bargaining tool to prop up dictators and prolong the usurpation of Venezuelan democracy.”
Cuban state-owned oil trading firm Cubametales was put on the US Treasury's sanctions list in July, and several shipping companies have since faced sanctions for doing business with the Cuban trader.
The Treasury also de-listed two shipping companies, Serenity Maritime and Lima Shipping Corp, along with the vessels ‘Leon Dias’ and ‘New Hellas’.
"The United States has made clear that the removal of sanctions is available for persons . . . who take concrete and meaningful actions to restore democratic order, refuse to take part in human rights abuses, speak out against abuses committed by the illegitimate former Maduro regime, and combat corruption in Venezuela," the agency explained.