Maduro’s Secret Oilfield Contracts Draw Scrutiny of US Officials

Venezuela and the US are scrutinizing dozens of confidential oil contracts signed during the reign of ousted strongman Nicolas Maduro, according to people familiar with the situation.

The deals, conceived as a means of circumventing US sanctions to fund the socialist regime, involved oil fields across the Latin American nation, the people said.

The agreements known as productive participation contracts allowed investors to pump and trade crude while keeping their names secret to avoid economic reprisals by the US, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential matters. The contracts also allowed the government to work ...