Message to INFODIO readers: investigative journalism, which is what this site does, takes lots of time. Visiting media looking for a quick run down on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, have the decency to at least cite the source when plagiarising this site's content without attribution (exhibit Reuters here and here, exhibit Bloomberg here, exhibit OCCRP here). To all readers, do the right thing, the honest thing: support independent investigative journalism, help us expose rampant corruption. Note added 28/06/2021: impostors are using INFODIO's former editor's full name, and a fake email address (alek.boyd.arregui at gmail.com) to send copyright infringement claims / take down requests to web hosting companies (exhibit Hostgator). The attempt is yet another effort paid by corrupt thugs to erase information about their criminal activities. Infodio.com has no issues with other websites / journalists using / posting information published here, so long as the source is properly cited.

Latest

Venezuelan judiciary "after" Rafael Ramirez

Is the ask that has no reasonable explanation: how come Rafael Ramirez has not been indicted, charged, arrested, extradited, jailed? Anyone that has spent more than five minutes in Venezuela knows the answer. Justice is something reserved for political foes, a tool to be used selectively, when convenient and politically expedient. Ramirez seems to have become a target in some factions within chavismo, but it will be difficult to disentangle mess left behind. For one Nicolas Maduro was sitting across the table in PDVSA's board when Ramirez was looting the company with family and friends.

Tareck el Aissami's corruption accusations against Rafael Ramirez: rank hypocrisy

Someone must have shared "UPDATED - Nervis Villlalobos & Rafael Ramirez' web of corruption exposed" with Tareck el Aissami, who, in developing news, denounced yesterday some (just some) of the participants in a scheme that misappropriated and laundered over $4 billion dollars in 2012. El Aissami mentioned Rafael Ramirez, Luis and Ignacio Oberto, architects behind the theft of course. Nervis Villalobos,

Herrera Velutini: banker to Treasury-sanctioned D'Agostino & DoJ-wanted Convit

Francisco D'Agostino and Francisco Convit can easily be described as elite members of Venezuela's top corruption echelons. Treasury sanctioned D'Agostino "...for operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy and materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of PdVSA" (read assisting Alex Saab).

Venezuela's Treasury sanctions avoidance schemes: exhibit Theon Ali / Ensa Energia / Emergio

Alex Saab is in jail and is not coming out any time soon. That presented Nicolas Maduro & co with a problem: who could take his place in schemes to avoid U.S. Treasury sanctions, now that American justice had caught up? Enter Theon Ali* and Ensa Energia: a Trinidadian proxy with a shell registered in Labuan.

Alejandro Betancourt paid (at least) €500,000 to Martin Rodil

Fresh reports from Spain indicate that Alejandro Betancourt, CEO of Derwick Associates, paid Martin Rodil €500,000 for protection through a shell called Erasmus Haven. The news come in the context of arrest, in Switzerland, of Luis Fernando Vuteff one of the "bankers" involved in Money Flight, the $1.2 billion money laundering scheme set up by Rafael Ramirez and his friends.