Turkish national arrested in Miami for allegedly evading US sanctions on Venezuelan oil
Close up of male hands in bracelets behind back. (Pexels)
A Turkish national, Taskin Torlak, 37, was arrested on Saturday while attempting to leave the United States, following allegations of involvement in a scheme to transport Venezuelan oil in violation of U.S. sanctions, the U.S. Justice Department announced on Monday.
The U.S. Department of Justice claims Torlak orchestrated a complex operation to illegally ship oil from Venezuela’s state-run energy company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), employing strategies to hide the true origin of the oil. PDVSA has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019, as part of efforts to limit the Maduro administration’s access to funds.
“This defendant allegedly conspired to illegally sell Venezuelan oil, using deceit and trickery to hide the fact that this oil originated from Venezuela,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. “Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, was sanctioned by the U.S. government to prevent the current regime from further depleting the nation’s resources while it unlawfully remains in power.”
The complaint, filed in the District of Columbia, accuses Torlak and unidentified associates—including a Ukrainian national, an employee of a China-based shipping firm, and a tanker captain from Türkiye—of conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Investigators allege that the scheme involved changing vessel names and flags, covering identifiers with paint or blankets, and disabling tracking systems. The Justice Department said these measures were intended to obscure vessel identities and shield the shipments from scrutiny. According to the criminal complaint, Torlak and his co-conspirators received “tens of millions of dollars” from PDVSA for transporting the oil, with U.S. financial institutions unknowingly facilitating some transactions.
“The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those involved in criminal efforts to circumvent sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Homeland Security Investigations in Washington, D.C., led the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeghan Mikorski, along with Trial Attorneys Sean Heiden and Chantelle Dial from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Torlak remains detained on charges of conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty under U.S. law.
