US arrests Turkish businessman who allegedly helped Venezuela evade sanctions

MIAMI (AP) — A Turkish businessman was arrested in Miami on Monday and charged with helping Venezuela’s state oil company evade U.S. sanctions.

In the statement made by the Ministry of Justice, it was stated that 37-year-old Taşkın Torlak was arrested while trying to return to Turkey.

According to court documents, Torlak operated several companies involved in the transportation of sanctioned oil. Starting in 2020, Venezuela allegedly began working with unnamed collaborators and companies from Ukraine, China, Indonesia and elsewhere to transport its crude at a time when most Western buyers were avoiding the South American country for fear of undermining U.S. sanctions. Impeachment of President Nicolas Maduro.

Torlak and his associates allegedly concealed the identities of those who benefited from the transaction to allow U.S. banks to unknowingly process payments related to illicit oil transportation.

“We can use one of the clean names to keep the money from getting stuck somewhere,” he allegedly wrote in a communication with one of the conspirators.

To avoid detection, chartered oil tankers frequently turned off their automatic tracking systems, a mandatory safety device when transporting illicit Venezuelan crude. They also frequently changed the registration of ships to supposedly fly flags of convenience.

It was not immediately possible to find a lawyer for Torlak.

The United States began increasing sanctions against Venezuela after Maduro’s first re-election in 2018, and many key rivals were barred from running. Since then, the self-proclaimed socialist leader has deepened his grip on power and claimed a victory this year. third, six-year term in the face of evidence presented by his opponents that votes were stolen. The United States responded with new sanctions against the accused officials. prevent voting and committing human rights violations.

“The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable those involved in criminal efforts to circumvent sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime,” Deputy Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said in a statement.

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