USA imposes sanctions on Venezuela’s military counter-intelligence agency

The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on Venezuela’s military counter-intelligence agency, accusing it of torturing and murdering detainees.

The new sanctions, announced by the US Treasury Department, freeze any US-based assets of the country’s General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence.

They come less than a week after the US imposed sanctions on President Nicolas Maduro’s son, as part of Washington’s bid to force the Venezuelan leader from power.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement the move was triggered by the death in custody of a navy captain who was allegedly tortured.

“The politically motivated arrest and tragic death of Captain Rafael Acosta was unwarranted and unacceptable,? Mnuchin said.

France 24