FBI โฃDisrupts Alleged โMoney Launderingโ Scheme Linked to Maduro Family
WASHINGTON โฃ – The Federal Bureau โคof Examination hasโฃ dismantled a series of allegedโข money โฃlaundering operations connected to the children ofโ Venezuelan President Nicolรกs Maduro,according to statements โฃmade byโฃ FBI Director Kash Patel. โคThe operations wereโข characterized โasโ efforts to financially sustain the Maduro regime, which the U.S. government has repeatedly accused of corruption and drug trafficking.
The FBI’s actions โคcome amid escalating โฃU.S. โขpressure on the Maduroโฃ government, already subject toโค extensive sanctions. This โขdisruption aims to cut offโ a critical lifeline forโ the regime, hinderingโ its ability to maintain power and perhaps โขexacerbating the ongoing political and economicโ crisis โin Venezuela. Lawmakersโ areโข simultaneously advancing legislation to further increase pressure, including a substantialโ increaseโ in the reward for Maduro’s capture.
patel describedโ the schemes as “criminal lifeguards” for โฃthe Maduro government, asserting that the U.S. “willโฃ not beโ a safeโ shelter” โขfor illicit funds. He labeled Maduro a “corrupt narcoterrorist dictator” during a Saturday appearanceโค on Foxโ News, where heโข discussed the takedown.
On Thursday, Senators Rick โScottโข and Ashleyโฃ Moody, both Republicans representing โฃFlorida, introduced a bill to double the existing โreward for facts leadingโ to Maduro’s arrest toโฃ $100 โmillion. Aโข companion measure seeks to prohibit U.S. businesses from engagingโค with entities linked toโฃ the Venezuelan government.
The FBI has not publicly detailed the specifics of theโ money laundering schemes or the identities of those directly โinvolved, citing the ongoing investigation. Though, the โคagency confirmed the operations involved complex financial transactionsโ designed to concealโค the origin andโ destination of funds.