US EditionSwitzerland Freezes $880 Million in Assets Linked to Nicolás Maduro
Swiss authorities froze 687 million francs to block assets of Nicolás Maduro and 36 associates, preserving funds amid Venezuela's volatile political climate for possible legal use.
- On January 5, 2026, the Swiss Federal Council approved an ordinance to freeze 687 million Swiss francs linked to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
- Switzerland relied on its legal framework — including the 2015 Foreign Illicit Assets Act and related federal rules — to authorize action against Nicolás Maduro after his capture in early January, officials said.
- Swiss authorities clarified this is the first time they have provided an overall valuation for assets frozen, targeting Maduro and 36 others, without detailing the assets' composition.
- Federal authorities said the freeze preserves assets for legal review until courts or mutual legal assistance proceedings investigate their origin, and if found illicit, Switzerland will seek restitution benefiting the Venezuelan people.
- The measure builds on Embargo Act measures since 2018 that aligned with EU sanctions, targeting Maduro and close associates under broader authority to block assets.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Bern immobilizes the funds of the satrap and its surroundings to return them to the Venezuelan people, if proven illicit origin.
Switzerland reported that it froze SwF 687 million, equivalent to $880 million, linked to Nicolás Maduro after his recent arrest.The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the figure to AFP and detailed that the order has been in effect since January 5.The measure includes Cilia Flores, close friends and ex-ministers, as part of a preventive blockade to prevent capital flight and judicial cooperation.Blocking of 880 million in Switzerland af…
Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)
watson.ch/Venezuelan assets have been reported and frozen to the FIU for money laundering.
A third of the additional assets have been seized since the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the Americans, according to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Venezuelan assets worth 687 million francs, belonging to the entourage of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have been declared in Switzerland. All the funds have been frozen in a preventive manner.Two thirds of this amount had already been frozen in criminal proceedings in Switzerland, s…
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