The Swiss government said this Monday (23) that it has blocked 687 million Swiss francs (around US$887 million) in assets linked to former dictator Nicolás Maduro in the European country.
According to the Swiss authorities, two thirds of this amount had already been previously frozen as part of ongoing criminal proceedings in Switzerland. Following Maduro’s capture by the United States on January 3, an additional 239 million Swiss francs were blocked.
According to the government, two days after Maduro was captured by US forces in Caracas, the formal order freezing the assets of the former dictator and people linked to him came into force. The blockade was classified by the authorities as a “precautionary measure”, adopted in light of the “volatile situation” created after the Chavista’s arrest.
The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that no member of the current regime that temporarily commands Venezuela, under US targeting, is directly affected by the measure. Swiss authorities stated that the freeze seeks to prevent possible transfers or diversion of resources.
According to Swiss federal legislation, it is possible to freeze assets of foreigners considered “politically exposed” when there is evidence that they were obtained through corruption, criminal management or other serious crimes. If the illicit origin of the values linked to Maduro is proven, Switzerland will be able to return them for the benefit of the Venezuelan population, as assured by the authorities in January.
