Betrayal at the Heart of Power: Maduro Accuses Former Venezuelan Minister of Colluding with Opposition and US Administration

Fresh Take:

Venezuela's Wild Ride: A Shady Ex-Minister's Alleged City of Secrets

Mexico City, Mexico, April 30, 2024 (Our Newsroom) - Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro, has leveled some explosive accusations at his former oil minister, Tareck El Aissami. Maduro claims El Aissami conspired with far-right politicians, had knowledge of assassination plots, and was tied to coup schemes.

El Aissami was among several associates detained earlier this month, accused in an alleged corruption scheme in Venezuela's oil industry. During his weekly TV program, Maduro laid out details of the ongoing investigation against El Aissami, stating, "I can assure you that this investigation has uncovered a deeply corrupt mafia that took advantage of their position, not only stealing and embezzling from our country but also conspiring with the opposition and the US government."

Attorney General Tarek William Saab unveiled evidence during a press conference, including audio conversations featuring key opposition leaders and El Aissami associates, providing a snapshot of these suspicious dealings. Far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López, currently in exile in Spain, has admitted to past communications with figures within the Maduro administration, hinting at recorded conversations with Saab aimed at destabilizing the government.

Maduro's spokesperson Freddy Ñáñez further shared some intriguing leaked audio from 2020 between opposition figure Julio Borges and Samark López, accusing James "Jimmy" Story, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, of being involved in regime change plans. Borges claimed that Story was demanding "results" in exchange for disruption in Venezuela, while López appeared to leverage the influence of El Aissami.

Maduro went on to allege that El Aissami and his associates had collaborated with Venezuela's extremist opposition for years and had harsh words for the betrayal, saying, "Justice has captured these traitors." Though Maduro did not provide concrete evidence regarding El Aissami's involvement in the 2018 assassination attempt or the 2019 coup attempt, he hinted at informed knowledge of both incidents.

The investigation into El Aissami - now dubbed the PDVSA/Crypto scheme by prosecutors - revolves around the accusation that at least US $3 billion in crude sales were diverted via cryptocurrency schemes orchestrated through Venezuela's National Crypto Asset Superintendence (Sunacrip). This unorthodox strategy, born out of U.S. sanctions, has led to corruption within PDVSA.

El Aissami resigned in March 2023 when the probe was launched. Maduro appointed Pedro Tellechea as both oil minister and PDVSA president, resulting in the suspension of most oil and fuel exports to renegotiate contracts and improve terms.

Reported by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas

Enrichment Data Insights:

Allegations Against Tareck El Aissami: El Aissami was designated as a "Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker" by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2017 for his alleged significant role in international narcotics trafficking. Additionally, he faces charges in the Southern District of New York for violations of the Kingpin Act.
Association with Tren de Aragua: El Aissami is associated with promoting or allowing the growth of criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua, though there is no specific information about direct control or involvement in their nefarious activities.

The Venezuelan politics have been under scrutiny once again, with President Nicolás Maduro accusing former minister Tareck El Aissami of conspiring with far-right politicians, embezzling funds, and orchestrating coup schemes.
Recently, the superintendence in charge of Venezuela's National Crypto Asset Superintendence (Sunacrip) has become a focal point in the ongoing investigation against Tareck El Aissami, due to allegations of embezzling billions in crude sales through cryptocurrency schemes.
The recent arrest of Tareck El Aissami and his associates has shed light on a complex web of conspiracies in Venezuelan politics, with audio conversations suggesting the involvement of key opposition leaders in suspicious dealings.
Despite stepping down as oil minister last year, Tareck El Aissami continues to face multiple charges both domestically and abroad, including those in the U.S. for his alleged role in international narcotics trafficking.
The ongoing investigation into Tareck El Aissami and his alleged involvement in war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, policy-and-legislation, and general-news events is a reminder of the intricate interplay between politics, corruption, and crime in Venezuela and its implications for world affairs.