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3/19/2020

Treasury Takes Steps to Harmonize International Sanctions Efforts Against Venezuelan Officials | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Takes Steps to Harmonize International Sanctions
Efforts Against Venezuelan Officials
November 5, 2019

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) identified five current o icials of the Government of Venezuela pursuant to Executive
Order (E.O.) 13884, which blocks the property and interests in property of the Government of
Venezuela and those who have acted or purported to have acted on its behalf.
“Treasury is identifying high-level o icials acting on behalf of the oppressive regime of former
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which continues to engage in egregious levels of
corruption and human rights abuses,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This action
harmonizes our e orts with those of international partners like Canada and the European Union
that have imposed sanctions against former Maduro regime o icials.”
Today’s identifications focus on current o icials of the Government of Venezuela, including
those associated with the government’s rampant violence against peaceful opposition
protesters, and those who continue to benefit from the corrupt former regime.
Treasury’s identifications today reflect a unified e ort against the illegitimate former Maduro
regime, as all of the individuals below were previously sanctioned by the European Union (EU)
or Canada. The below individuals are being identified under E.O.13884 as members of the
Government of Venezuela:
Remigio Ceballos Ichaso is an Admiral in the Venezuelan Navy and Commander of the
Strategic Operational Command of the National Armed Forces (CEOFANB). He stated
publicly in February 2019 that the military would obey Maduro’s orders to block the arrival
of aid in Venezuela and not take orders from individuals who seek to create disunion by
allowing its entry. He is sanctioned as a person subject to Special Economic Measures by the
Government of Canada for playing a key role in the political and economic crisis in
Venezuela.
Nestor Neptali Blanco Hurtado is a Major in the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB). He has
worked with o icials in the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (Dirección
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm825

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Treasury Takes Steps to Harmonize International Sanctions Efforts Against Venezuelan Officials | U.S. Department of the Treasury

General de Contrainteligencia Militar - DGCIM), where he is reportedly responsible for the
excessive use of force and mistreatment of detainees in DGCIM facilities. In September 2019,
he was sanctioned by the EU for his involvement in torture and other serious human rights
violations.
Jose Adelino Ornelas Ferreira is the Secretary General of the National Defense Council
(Secretario General del Consejo de Defensa de la Nacion). Members of the National
Bolivarian Armed Forces have used excessive force against peaceful protestors and
journalists, including severe physical violence. He is sanctioned as a person subject to
Special Economic Measures by the Government of Canada for playing a key role in the
political and economic crisis in Venezuela.
Pedro Miguel Carreno Escobar is a Deputy of the illegitimate Venezuelan National
Constituent Assembly (Asamblea Nacional Constituyente or ANC). He has served as a
Parliamentarian for the National Assembly of Venezuela to the Latin American Parliament
and as a former Army Captain. The ANC was created through an undemocratic process
instigated by Maduro’s regime to subvert the will of the Venezuelan people. He is
sanctioned as a person subject to Special Economic Measures by the Government of
Canada for playing a key role in the political and economic crisis in Venezuela.
Carlos Alberto Calderon Chirinos is a senior o icial in Bolivarian National Intelligence
Service (Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional – SEBIN). He was also accused of
torturing a peaceful protester who engaged in a hunger strike to demand the release of
students who had been imprisoned in May 2014 in Venezuela. In September 2019, he was
sanctioned by the EU for his involvement in torture and other serious human rights
violations.
Identifying information on the individuals identified today.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm825

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