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(CNN Spanish) - The United States included in its list of sanctions two officials of the Administrative Service of Identification and Foreigners (SAIME) of Venezuela, whom he accused of “enriching himself corruptly at the expense of Venezuelans who require passports”.
Those sanctioned are Juan Carlos Dugarte, former head of SAIME, and Gustavo Adolfo Vizcaíno, current director of that office, who assumed the position in replacement of Dugarte in June 2018.
The action mandates the blocking of assets that they may possess in the United States, prevents transactions with US entities or citizens and restricts the entry of those sanctioned to the territory of that country.
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In a statement, the US Department of State told Vizcaino to "personally benefit" through the charge "of exorbitant fees to passport applicants" through SAIME.
"Some passports were sold to non-Venezuelan citizens and other applicants never received passports, even after illegally charging them thousands of dollars," the statement said.
About Dugarte, the US government said it "received bribes and was publicly involved in corrupt deals for the sale of passports."
The SAIME has recognized - in the past - the existence of corruption cases within the institution through illegal collection for the issuance of passports, but blames former workers as well as people who pretended to be officials.
In an official September note, the identification and immigration office said it had detected 19 cases of corruption and scams so far in 2019.
US-sanctioned officials on Monday have not been included in any investigation by the Venezuelan authorities.
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The former head of the Venezuelan identification service described in his social networks the action of "perverse and infamous aggression", which in turn considers "a gratitude to my Revolutionary and Chavista blood."
"Despite this measure that the Treasury Department (OFAC) applies against me today, it will NOT stop the main mission of continuing to accompany our Constitutional President @NicolasMaduro in the defense of the Homeland," Dugarte posted on his Twitter account @Juan_Dugarte .
Also on Twitter, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry condemned the measure.
“The purported and absurd 'sanctions' announced today by the Trump Administration confirm their despair and chronic disorientation with respect to Venezuela. Neither unilateral measures nor economic blockade will stop the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, ”Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza wrote from his Twitter account @jaarreaza.
The sanctioned officials made no reference to the accusations of corruption wielded by the United States.
CNN has tried to communicate directly with those indicated to obtain their reaction, but has not yet received an answer.
In November, SAIME informed that the passport payment will be anchored to the value of “Petro”, the cryptocurrency designed by the Maduro government and that it is using as a reference for the payment of public services.
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To process a new passport in Venezuela is equivalent to US $ 179.13 at this time, but the minimum wage in the country - for example - only reaches US $ 6.8 per month.
The issuance of the Venezuelan passport is one of the most delayed procedures in the country. Some people have had to wait between 1 and 2 years to obtain the document.
The situation led several countries in the world, including the United States and Canada, to recognize the validity of the expired Venezuelan document in accordance with a decree of the National Assembly of Venezuela, led
by Juan Guaidó, who orders to extend the validity of the travel document for a period of 5 years after the expiration date.
After the sanctions this Monday, the United States criticized "that Venezuelans are unable to obtain a passport or that they have to pay high fees due to corruption."
"This is another cause of the misery that millions of Venezuelans suffer now," said the State Department.
Venezuelan passportsSaimeSanción
