After announcing the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a United States military operation, the government of Switzerland announced the freezing of “all assets” that the former ruler may have in the country for a period of four years. The measure also included 36 other Venezuelans, from relatives of the official leader to businessmen from PDVSA and other companies.
The ordinance of the Federal Council dated January 5, to which he had access Transparency Venezuelaestablishes that the possible bank accounts and assets in Swiss territory of Maduro and the other 36 Venezuelans will be immobilized, with the aim of preventing “illegally acquired assets from being transferred outside of Switzerland.”
Relatives and former senior officials on the list
Among the names mentioned are Cilia Floresas well as his three children —Walter, Yosser Daniel and Yoswal Alexander Gavidia Flores—and his nephew Erik Malpica Floresformer vice president of Finance of PDVSA and former national treasurer.
They also appear Jorge Arreazaformer chancellor and current deputy of the National Assembly, and Marleny Contrerasformer Minister of Tourism and wife of the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello. Both were included due to their status as politically exposed people.
The list is completed with key figures from the energy sector, such as the former Minister of Energy and former president of PDVSA Rafael Ramirezand his cousin Diego Salazarcurrently detained in Venezuela for corruption.
Businessmen linked to corruption schemes
The Swiss ordinance also covers businessmen identified in international investigations for corruption. Among them stand out Alejandro Betancourt López, Francisco Convit Gurruceaga and Pedro Trebbau Lópezdirectors of Derwick Associates, with open proceedings in the United States, Spain and Venezuela for their alleged participation in the embezzlement of PDVSA during the 2009 electricity crisis.
Other recurring names in court files are Javier Alvarado Ochoa and Nervis Villalobosformer vice ministers of Electric Energy during the government of Hugo Chávez, as well as Alejandro Andradeformer national treasurer and former president of Bandes.
They also appear Raúl Gorrín and Gustavo Perdomoowners of Globovisión, accused of their participation in irregular schemes for awarding bonds of the Republic.
Switzerland did not disclose the amounts
The Swiss authorities avoided specifying the amount of the frozen assets. In response to queries from Transparencia Venezuela, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs indicated that, as this is a recent process, information on specific assets cannot be disclosed.
They recalled, however, that financial institutions are required to report any funds that may be subject to the ordinance. In 2021, Swiss media estimated that more than $10 billion linked to the Maduro government rested in the country’s banks.
