A Turkish national, Taskin Torlak, was arrested in Miami for allegedly attempting to bypass U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil. Torlak, 37, is accused of helping Venezuela's state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., evade U.S. financial monitoring, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.

A Justice Department complaint revealed that Torlak and his co-conspirators used various methods to conceal the identities of vessels transporting oil, including renaming ships, changing flags, covering titles with paint or blankets, and disabling tracking devices. Their goal was to disguise transactions with Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. and deceive U.S. banks into processing payments unknowingly, reportedly earning tens of millions of dollars. The scheme, which began around November 2020, involved efforts to keep the dealings hidden from U.S. authorities and the maritime industry, as reported by the United States Attorney’s Office.

Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge with Homeland Security Investigations, pointed out the risks of sanctions violations, including financial harm and the potential physical dangers from tampering with ship tracking. The Justice Department remains committed to enforcing sanctions against Maduro's regime. As Torlak faces court, the investigation continues, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeghan Mikorski and Trial Attorneys Sean Heiden and Chantelle Dial leading the prosecution, as stated by the United States Attorney’s Office.