— This is the first I’ve heard of it.
This is how Andres Muzo reacts when the news agency AP knocks. He lives at the address that one of the now hunted oil trading companies, Walker International, has listed as his residence in Venezuela.
Walker has bought oil for 77 million US dollars, but not paid. Now the tracks end at Muzo’s garage, which is sublet.
— They store tools in there, we don’t know more than that.
Over 240 billion
Especially since the US imposed sanctions due to a lack of democracy in Venezuela, much of the oil trade has been taken over by more or less unknown companies. The oil is delivered to unknown destinations on the other side of the world’s oceans – and much of the money disappears on the way, or already with shady intermediaries in Venezuela.
Documents reviewed by AP show that in August of last year, 10.1 billion and 13.3 billion dollars were respectively missing after oil sales that were not paid at the state company PDVSA and the government. Today, this corresponds to a total of more than SEK 240 billion.
For many years now, Venezuelans have been wary of corruption, and that various people in power embezzle money when they can. But the authoritarian Maduro has a presidential election coming up next year, and is now keen to show off his strength against the mold.
Be a key player
During March, a total of over 20 businessmen and high-ranking officials have been arrested, suspected of shady dealings linked to the oil trade. Among them are close associates of the powerful oil minister Tareck El Aissami – which is believed to have been behind his abrupt resignation the other week.
“As a revolutionary fighter, I place myself at the party’s disposal to support this crusade that the president is carrying out,” wrote El Aissami on Twitter when he announced his resignation.
Experts see the news as a shock, and are now waiting for further clues about the power struggle that is apparently going on within the regime.
— El Aissami was a key player in the Maduro government’s strategy to dodge the sanctions. This is someone who knows where all the “bodies are buried,” so seeing where he goes could be crucial, Geoff Ramsey of the Atlantic Council think tank told the AP.
A black facade at the center of the mystery of Venezuela’s missing oil money. The house in the center of the picture has been listed as the headquarters of the shadowy company Walker International.