The US administration has sold approximately 150 million barrels of Venezuelan oil since January 2026, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, quoted by Semafor.
“In round numbers, it is likely that approximately 150 million barrels of Venezuelan oil have been sold since January 3. Probably a little more, but approximately that“, he said.
On January 3, Washington conducted a military operation in Caracas, as a result of which US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
On January 5, they appeared in federal court for the Southern District of New York. They are accused of drug trafficking. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty.
Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro's vice president, is currently acting head of state of Venezuela.
The US administration has said that the United States will take temporary control of Venezuela.
Two people were killed by US military personnel after a strike on a vessel that US Southern Command said was being used for drug trafficking.
„On the orders of US Southern Command Commander Francis Donovan, Joint Task Force „Southern Spear“ carried out a fatal strike on the vessel on April 13,“ it said in a statement published in X.
“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was traveling on known drug smuggling routes in the Eastern Pacific and was being used for drug trafficking.“