Treasury official points finger at Turkey over Venezuelan gold trade

The United States should publicize Turkey's involvement in the Venezuelan gold industry, a Treasury Department official said Wednesday. Marshall Billingslea, assistant secretary for terrorist financing at Treasury, said at a Brookings Institution event that the Turkish government has skirted international sanctions by purchasing tons of Venezuelan gold in recent months. "These are not your typical gold mines," Billingslea said. "... We're approaching a similar kind of 'blood diamond' situation here with the gold in Venezuela." More…