Having several Cuban and Venezuelan friends and acquaintances (I'm a Chilean living in Florida), it's interesting to become aware of the real dynamics that happ

Having several Cuban and Venezuelan friends and acquaintances (I'm a Chilean living in Florida), it's interesting to become aware of the real dynamics that happen under sanctions in these countries. The sanctions are mostly political in nature but in the case of Cuba it didn't stop imports from operating. I realized this early during flyovers over Cuba and watching the numerous cargo ships and small vessels going in and out of ports and docks. A cousin of one of my colleagues at work in Miami spent his weekends making deliveries of goods that eventually made to the island. He only got in trouble with the Coast Guard when one time he was bringing back some folks that wanted to illegally immigrate to the US using the special laws they have for people fleeing the island. They told him if they ever find out he was doing it again they would confiscate his boat and face prison time. After Obama restrictions have been lifted further. The sad thing is that only the people related to the party are the ones able to afford most of the stuff traded in the black market, or plainly are the main contacts importing illegal goods. If you are a common citizen your only option is to become something like a bartender in a tourist hotel, which essentially makes you close to products like food, liquor and electronics that have sanction exemptions that you can illegally buy and trade in the black market. BTW, when they explained me this 10 years ago the going entry "price" to become a bartender was over 10k USD, several lifetime salaries of many people in Cuba. Therefore as you can imagine this translates in lots of corruption and the only people that gets affected by sanctions in reality is the common man. Venezuela is no different. I once met some young Venezuelans whose dad was a military general in the country. All his family was lavishly living and studying in Miami. Somebody else told me that after Chavez there has never been so many high rank officials, all essentially millionaires, that protect that part of Venezuela's ruling class that aligned with the regime. If they used to be rich, like in the Russia after the perestroika now they practically own the country. Just browse in YouTube all the videos of people that visit the Caracas luxury malls, fully stocked supermarkets and fast food restaurants. A common person needs to work a full week to be able to buy a McDonald's meal. To guard critical infrastructure facilities and gas stations they have a special police that in practice has a license to kill.