US Applies Sanctions Against Mexicans for Oil Deals with Venezuela

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The US Treasury Department has included the Mexican-based companies Schlager Business Group and Libre Abordo in the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions list as a result of their links with Venezuela.

According to the US government, these companies are “linked to a network that is trying to circumvent US sanctions against the Venezuelan oil industry.”

Six other companies are included in the list:

– Alel Technologies LLC, based in Boston, USA.

– Cosmo Resources PTE. LTD, based in Singapore.

– Delos Voyager Shipping LTD, from the Marshall Islands.

– Luzy Technologies LLC, also based in Boston, USA.

– Romina Maritime CO INC, based in Piraeus, Greece.

– Washington Trading LTD, based in London, United Kingdom.

The sanctions also affect two oil tankers: the Delos Voyager, under the Panamanian flag, a tanker belonging to Delos Voyager Shipping LTD., and Euroforce, sailing under the Liberian flag, belonging to Romina Maritime CO INC.

Three Mexican citizens are also affected by the sanctions: Olga María Zepeda Esparza and her mother, Verónica Esparza García, and Joaquín Leal Jiménez.

According to the Treasury department, Zepeda and Esparza control the Schlager Business Group. In partnership with Leal, they managed several operations, including the “production of significant amounts of oil with the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA”.

In addition, Leal allegedly “coordinated the purchase and sale of PDVSA’s Venezuelan-origin crude oil, shared knowledge of the global oil sector, and facilitated its transport and resale to buyers,” according to Washington.

Three days ago, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reiterated that despite the sanctions imposed by the US on Venezuela, he was prepared to sell fuel to the South American country for humanitarian reasons if requested by Caracas.

“If it is a humanitarian need, we will do it. We are free, Mexico is an independent, sovereign country, we make our own decisions and we do not interfere in other countries’ politics,” he said.

Source: Amerika21

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