Biometrics company that played role in Venezuela parliamentary polls blacklisted by U.S.

An Argentine biometrics company that provided equipment and other services for the organization of parliamentary polls in Venezuela early this year by the government of embattled President Nicolas Maduro, has been sanctioned by the United States government.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Friday targeting the company Ex-Cle Soluciones Biometricas C.A. and two officials who are said to have acted either for or on behalf of the firm in the course of the elections.

The sanctions mean that the company will see all of its U.S.-based assets frozen, and it will also not be possible for any U.S. entity to do business with it, the Reuters report notes.

The two individuals targeted by the U.S. sanctions are Guillermo Carlos San Agustin, said to be an Argentine and Italian national; and Marcos Javier Machado Requena, a Venezuelan citizen.

A statement by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was cited by Reuters as stating that “the illegitimate Maduro regime’s efforts to steal elections in Venezuela show its disregard for the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people,” adding that “the United States remains committed to targeting the Maduro regime and those who support its aim to deny the Venezuelan people their right to free and fair elections.”

Maduro, who for some time now has been targeted by the U.S. government, and who has accused the country of attempts to topple him because of Venezuela’s oil wealth, hit back at the move, calling it “…some stupid sanctions,” the Reuters report said.

Ex-Cle has not issued a response to the U.S. sanctions at the time of this report.

Ex-Cle an established regional provider

Ex-Cle is a company with more than 20 years of experience offering services including biometric solutions for enlistments and identity verification; electronic payment services with biometric technology; electoral automation services for full digital voting; as well as document digitization, data research and processing. It also has interests in the transport and logistics sector.

The company has offices in Argentina, Paraguay and Venezuela and its customers cut across the business and government sectors, according to information on its website. Ex-Cle notes it is a commercial representative of Neurotechnology in South America.

Article Topics

Argentina  |  biometrics  |  elections  |  identity verification  |  United States  |  Venezuela