**Switzerland Freezes $880 Million in Assets Linked to Nicolás Maduro and Inner Circle to Prevent Suspected Fund Flight**

Maduro y su esposa son trasladados a un tribunal de Nueva York para una primera comparecencia

Switzerland Freezes Over $880 Million in Assets Linked to Nicolás Maduro in Push Against Illicit Funds

Bern, Switzerland — Swiss authorities have taken decisive financial action by freezing a total of 687 million Swiss francs (about USD 880 million) in assets connected to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and individuals tied to his inner circle, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.(infobae)

The asset freeze, which took effect on January 5, 2026, was ordered by the Swiss Federal Council under the country’s Foreign Illicit Assets Act (FIAA) — a law that allows authorities to block funds held by politically exposed foreign individuals when there are reasonable concerns that the assets may have been obtained through corruption or other serious criminal activity.(infobae)

Foto de archivo del Credit Suisse en Berna, Suiza (REUTERS)

According to the Swiss government, the freeze was implemented as a preventive measure following Maduro’s arrest in Caracas on January 3 by U.S. forces and his subsequent transfer to the United States, where he faces federal charges. The decision was aimed at preventing suspect funds from leaving the Swiss financial system amid a volatile legal and political context.(static.poder360.com.br)

Swiss authorities have said that intermediaries in the country’s financial sector reported the total value of the assets held under this order to the Swiss Money Laundering Reporting Office — though officials have not publicly identified the specific account holders for legal reasons.(LA NACION)

Previous Freezes and Additional Measures

Swiss officials noted that about two-thirds of the blocked assets were already under restriction before the specific January order was issued, tied to earlier criminal proceedings in Switzerland. A further 239 million francs was newly frozen under the expanded asset freeze after Maduro’s detention.(SWI swissinfo.ch)

Nicolás Maduro fue llevado al tribunal de Manhattan para enfrentar formalmente una acusación federal de narcoterrorismo (REUTERS/Adam Gray/Archivo)

The freeze does not currently apply to members of the present Venezuelan government, Swiss authorities clarified. The policy specifically targets Maduro and individuals linked to his previous administration or networks of influence.(SWI swissinfo.ch)

Potential Return of Funds to the Venezuelan People

Swiss officials emphasized that these frozen assets will remain out of reach until their legality can be fully determined. If investigations confirm that the funds were acquired through illicit means — such as corruption or abuse of public office — Switzerland intends to pursue their return to benefit the Venezuelan people, under international legal cooperation frameworks established by the FIAA.(infobae)

This action builds on Switzerland’s longstanding position of financial transparency and legal compliance with international anti-money-laundering standards, and it comes amid intensifying scrutiny of Venezuelan assets abroad following the controversial leadership change and legal actions in the United States.(LA NACION)