Message to INFODIO readers: investigative journalism, which is what this site does, takes lots of time and effort. Visiting media looking for a quick run down on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, pls have the decency to at least cite the source when plagiarising this site's content without attribution (exhibit Reuters here, exhibit Bloomberg here, exhibit OCCRP here). To all readers: do the right thing, the honest thing, support independent investigative journalism. 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. 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. Note added 12/06/2026: infodio.com has not created mirror websites / domains and remains totally independent and unrelated to others. Beware of websites using our brand.
Check out this headline: "Former top Venezuelan oil ministry lawyer gets 4 years in Miami money laundering case." The lawyer in question is Carmelo Urdaneta Aqui, a confidant and trusted operator in all manner of corruption of Rafael Ramirez.
If we were in the business of betting, we wouldn’t give any odds to Jorge Rodriguez's threat against Juan Carlos Escotet. Rodriguez is meant to be upset for something Escotet did, and claimed recently that he was coming after him. He accused Escotet of belonging to a group of "banqueros ladrones" that have everyone on payroll, as if that is something that just hit him and not standard operating procedure in Venezuela. Rodriguez knows where Escotet's bodies are buried, of course, but he stands no chance of inflicting any damage whatsoever.
New development in the extortion racket led by DEA-informant Martin Rodil: Nervis Villalobos, Carlos Aguilera, Javier Alvarado Ochoa, Rafael Reiter, Raul Gorrin, Carmelo Urdaneta Aqui and Moris Beracha bought Rodil's "protection" in Spain to stay out of trouble. Rodil's Spanish network included disgraced Police Chief José Manuel Villarejo and his partner José Aliste as per fresh reports.
In the course of law enforcement work, U.S. Federal Agencies would seek information and meet with about anybody, if it potentially advances their agendas. Take Alex Saab, for many years Nicolas Maduro's favourite proxy and someone who went from bankruptcy to multi billionaire status much faster than Elon Musk. Saab was on the DEA's radar for a long time. Saab's partner in every last corrupt deal in Venezuela was a former head of Bogota's drug cartel.
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