Cari Stinebower Discusses False Documents Used in Oil Exports with Reuters

Winston & Strawn Partner Cari Stinebower discussed the use of false documents to export Venezuelan oil and conceal its origin in an article with Reuters. 

Last year, supertanker Young Yong sailed to a Chinese port with documents stating that it was transporting Malaysian crude oil, but satellite images show the ship had loaded the oil in Venezuela, a nation under U.S. oil sanctions. According to Reuters, the tanker is one of three that transported Venezuelan oil using false documents to conceal its origin. The ship was also recently designated by U.S. authorities for violating sanctions on Iran. 

“It’s now becoming clear you cannot trust certificates of origin even when they come with official government documentation,” said Cari. She continued by stating that the use of false documents to conceal the origin of cargo was started by Iran to avoid U.S. sanctions it appears the technique was now being used to transport Venezuelan oil. 

Read the full article here.