U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement today regarding U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami and Venezuelan businessman Samark Lopez:

“The conditions in Venezuela have been deteriorating for several years and many Tampa Bay area families have been impacted. The corruption in the Maduro regime has eroded human rights and increased the struggles for everyday Venezuelans.  I welcome the news that the U.S. Treasury department has added Venezuelan Vice President Tarek El Aissami and Samark Lopez to its sanctions list for their role in international narcotics trafficking. We must ensure that the United States is not used as a safe haven for illicit assets and that we are working to help improve the humanitarian and political crisis in Venezuela.”

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