US sanctions Venezuelans including TV owner over currency scheme

The United States imposed sanctions Tuesday on seven Venezuelans including the owner of news network Globovision for allegedly plundering billions of dollars from the crisis-hit country through black-market currency exchanges.

Days before President Nicolas Maduro is to be sworn in for a new term after a controversial re-election, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin vowed to target methods employed by the government "to steal from its people".

"Our actions against this corrupt currency exchange network expose yet another deplorable practice that Venezuela regime insiders have used to benefit themselves at the expense of the Venezuelan people," Mnuchin said in a statement.

"The United States remains committed to holding accountable those responsible for Venezuela's tragic decline, and will continue to use diplomatic and economic tools to support the Venezuelan people's efforts to restore their democracy."