17 days ago - politics-and-society

Surveillance in the Visa Application Process: Addressing the Deceptive Practices of the Maduro Regime and its Illegal Financial Organization

By Poder & Dinero

Surveillance in the Visa Application Process: Addressing the Deceptive Practices of the Maduro Regime and its Illegal Financial Organization

Jesús Daniel Romero and William Acosta for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú

The Venezuelan regime of Maduro has cunningly used the tactic of disguising its members as legitimate businessmen, allowing them to invest in various properties and industries both nationally and internationally. This practice not only facilitates money laundering but also allows its members to maintain an image of respectability while engaging in corrupt activities. To counter this strategy, it is essential for the international community to reinforce oversight in the visa application process and take decisive action against those attempting to hide in plain sight.

 

Identification of Shell Companies and Investments

Numerous individuals linked to Maduro's regime operate through shell companies that appear legitimate. These businesses often invest in real estate, oil, and other sectors, serving as a cover for illicit financial activities. The international community must prioritize identifying these companies and examine their ownership structures to reveal the true nature of their operations.

 

Increased Scrutiny in Visa Applications

To prevent regime members and their families from exploiting the visa systems, authorities must implement stricter controls during the application process. This includes conducting thorough background checks to identify any connections to Maduro's regime or involvement in corrupt practices. Additionally, requiring applicants to present documentation about their assets and investments ensures they do not attempt to disguise illicit wealth. It is equally crucial to use interviews to assess the legitimacy of applicants' claims and their ties to Venezuela.

 

Collaboration with International Agencies

Cooperation between countries and international agencies is essential for sharing intelligence and identifying individuals affiliated with Maduro's regime. By establishing networks for information exchange, countries can work together to prevent regime members from accessing international markets and resources.

 

Awareness and Training

Training immigration officials and law enforcement agencies on the tactics used by corrupt officials to disguise their identities can enhance detection efforts. Increasing awareness of Maduro's regime's methods among relevant stakeholders will empower actors to make bold decisions against those attempting to exploit system vulnerabilities.

 

Public Disclosure and Accountability

Transparency is key to holding regime members accountable. International organizations and governments must publicly disclose information about individuals and entities linked to Maduro's regime, thus making it more difficult for them to operate covertly. This information can also serve as a resource for businesses and financial institutions, preventing engagement with corrupt actors.

 

Examples of Regime Investors and Operators

The following are examples of individuals and entities linked to Maduro's regime reported as investors or operatives in the United States and Europe. These figures often utilize shell companies or businesses that appear legitimate to conceal their connections to the regime:

Alex Saab: This Colombian businessman has been implicated as a key figure in facilitating money laundering and illegal transactions for Maduro's regime, with ties to various companies and properties in the United States and Europe, including real estate investments.

Giorgio De Nardo: An Italian businessman allegedly involved in activities supporting Maduro's regime, associated with companies operating in oil trade across various European countries.

César Aponte: Identified as a key player in the regime's financial operations, with connections to various companies in the United States. He is known for operating shell companies that conduct legitimate business while siphoning profits to the regime.

Diego Salazar: Former executive of PDVSA, Venezuela's state oil company, accused of embezzling funds and connected to various foreign companies. He has been linked to investments in real estate and financial services in Europe.

Venezuelan Gold Traders: Various individuals involved in gold trading, often used to evade sanctions, have established operations in the United States and Europe, investing in goods and other industries, using their profits to support Maduro's regime.

The new administration of President Donald Trump must avoid repeating past mistakes by allowing U.S. oil corporations to provide the Maduro regime with unrestricted financial resources. Authorizing these companies to operate without strict regulations would enable them to channel significant amounts of money to the regime, thereby strengthening its criminal activities. It is crucial for the administration to implement stringent controls and ensure that any commercial transaction does not contribute to the regime's corrupt practices nor facilitate human rights violations. Reinforcing sanctions and promoting accountability must be the priority to prevent further support for Maduro's regime and its detrimental impact both in Venezuela and the international community.

 

Conclusion

The Maduro regime has cultivated a network of investors operating under the guise of legitimate businessmen. These individuals and their associated entities often engage in complex financial schemes that allow them to launder money and evade sanctions. Increased scrutiny and collaboration among international authorities are essential to expose these connections and prevent further exploitation of financial systems. The practice of the Maduro regime disguising its members as legitimate businessmen presents a significant challenge for the international community. To combat this deception, it is crucial to strengthen oversight in the visa application process. By implementing more rigorous controls, fostering international collaboration, and increasing awareness, the global community can work to prevent regime members from hiding in plain sight and undermine their ability to continue corrupt practices.

 

Credits: The New York Times, The Washington Post, El País, BBC News, Reuters, The Guardian, CNN.

Jesús Romero retired after 37 years of service in the U.S. government, covering military, intelligence, and diplomatic roles. He began his career in the Navy in 1984, rising from enlisted member to Naval Intelligence Officer through the Navy’s Enlisted Commissioning Program. Graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Romero also completed Naval Pre-Flight Training and served in various capacities, including aboard a nuclear missile cruiser and in strike squadrons. His deployments included Libya, Bosnia, Iraq, and Somalia. The intelligence career of Romero included key assignments with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Panama, the Pacific Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, and leading U.S. efforts to locate missing personnel in Asia. He retired from active service in 2006, decorated with numerous medals such as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. After his military career, Romero worked as a defense contractor for BAE Systems and Booz Allen Hamilton. He spent 15 years in civil service as an Intelligence Operations Specialist at the Army Department in the Southern Joint Interagency Task Force in Florida. His diplomatic roles abroad included stints in Peru, Ecuador, and Guatemala. Romero has been widely recognized, including the Joint Service Meritorious Civilian Service Medal from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army Superior Civilian Service Medal, and multiple international awards for his contributions to anti-narcotics missions. Romero wrote his last book to honor his colleagues and illuminate the disruptive strategies against an international criminal organization, which under his leadership, significantly hindered cocaine trade to the United States. His efforts contributed to dismantling operations supporting Mexican cartels and reduced the aerial cocaine bridge by more than 120 tons annually.

He is the author of the Amazon bestseller titled "The Final Flight: The Queen of the Air"

William Acosta is the founder and CEO of Equalizer Private Investigations & Security Services Inc. He has coordinated investigations related to international drug trafficking, money laundering, and homicides in the U.S. and other countries such as Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, England, and literally, all of Latin America.

William has been a police investigator in New York for 10 years, 2 years in the Department of the Treasury, and 6 years in the American Army with several international deployments on communications and intelligence issues.

CAREER AND EXPERIENCE

William Acosta, an international investigator veteran, coordinated multijurisdictional investigations on drug trafficking, money laundering, and homicides in the United States and other countries.

Acosta's martial arts training in taekwondo has reached the 6th dan, practicing traditionally as a lifestyle and not just to fight.

The transition from police to private investigation allowed Acosta to make his own rules and choose clients after more than 20 years in the profession.

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Poder & Dinero

Poder & Dinero

We are a group of professionals from various fields, passionate about learning and understanding what happens in the world, and its consequences, in order to transmit knowledge.
Sergio Berensztein, Fabián Calle, Santiago Montoya, Pedro von Eyken, José Daniel Salinardi, Leo Moumdjian, along with a distinguished group of journalists and analysts from Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

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