Venezuela’s parliament on Tuesday approved a bill that criminalises a range of activities that threaten the South American country’s commerce, including the seizure of oil tankers.
The bill was introduced, debated and approved within two days in the National Assembly and follows Venezuela’s face-off with the US, which comprised the country’s forces seizing two Venezuelan oil tankers in international waters this month.
The seizures are the latest strategy in US President Donald Trump’s four-month pressure campaign on Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro to step down, repeatedly saying that Maduro’s days in power are numbered. Following the latest seizure, Trump said the US plans to keep the oil and also accused Venezuela of using the fleet to evade US economic sanctions.
The unicameral assembly, which is controlled by Venezuela’s ruling party, did not publish drafts on Tuesday nor the final version of the measure. But, as read on the floor, the bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts” against commercial entities operating with the South American country.
Also Read: US seizes second Venezuelan oil tanker in Caribbean waters
The bill, which now awaits Maduro’s signature, also instructs the executive branch to come up with “incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections” for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.
In a country embroiled in internal political rifts, Venezuela’s political opposition, including Nobel Peace laureate María Corina Machado, has expressed support for Trump’s Venezuela policy, including the seizure of tankers.
The US Coast Guard on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that officials said was part of the fleet moving sanctioned cargo. With assistance from the US Navy, it seized a rogue tanker called Skipper, registered in Panama, on December 10.
After the first seizure, Trump said the US would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela.
“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said of Maduro on Monday as he took a break from his Florida vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.
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