In a bid to destroy Venezuela’s economy, Washington blacklisted half a dozen oil tankers belonging to major companies back in June
A few weeks later, an unknown company from the United Arab Emirates took over the management of several tankers that were carrying Venezuelan oil. The names of the ships were changed and the oil shipments from the Bolivarian Republic continued.
According to Reuters, the company in question was Muhit Maritime FZE. The company shipped Venezuelan oil and fuel in the second half of this year, ignoring US sanctions. Its tankers managed to transport millions of barrels of oil produced by Venezuelan state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA.
The venture shows how the UAE, a key US ally in the Middle East, has become a haven for companies that help Caracas circumvent US sanctions.
Issa Shipping FZE and Asia Charm Ltd are also involved in the venture. Neither responded to a Reuters enquiry. Journalists were also unable to trace the ultimate owners of these entities.