U.S. Arrests Turkish Man In Miami For Violating Venezuelan Oil Sanctions

The U.S. Justice Department has arrested a Turkish man, Taskin Torlak, in Miami for allegedly violating sanctions on Venezuelan oil—a move that highlights ongoing efforts to enforce U.S. economic restrictions.

Torlak, 37, was apprehended on November 2 as he prepared to leave the U.S. His charges include conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Authorities claim that Torlak and his associates orchestrated a sophisticated plan to sell oil from Venezuela and Iran, using deceptive methods to hide the true origins of the shipments.

This network reportedly disguised oil shipments by renaming and reflagging tankers, covering vessel names, and turning off tracking devices to evade detection.

These covert operations allegedly allowed the conspirators to make tens of millions of dollars from Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves accused Torlak of using "deceit and trickery," noting that despite sanctions, the trade continued for some time without raising red flags.

Torlak’s arrest marks a significant step in cracking down on those who attempt to bypass sanctions, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to restricting Venezuelan oil from reaching international markets.