The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on July 11 the application of sanctions on the Venezuelan government’s General Directorate of Counter Military Intelligence (DGCIM). The official statement bases the decision on the alleged participation of the DGCIM in human rights violations and on the arrest and death of Navy Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo. 

Consequently, it was decided all property and interests in property of this entity, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by this entity, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, be blocked and be reported to OFAC.  OFAC regulations also prohibit all transactions carried out by Americans or within the United States involving assets of blocked entities.