Jesús Daniel Romero and William Acosta from Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
Introduction
The phenomenon of the children and boliburgueses of the Venezuelan regime who study, live, and travel around the world while investing in luxury properties and businesses in the United States and Europe deserves to be analyzed in a broader context (Infobae, 2019a). This analysis requires a critical review of the economic aid that the United States provides to various Latin American governments that, while presenting themselves as strategic allies, actually act as "convenience allies" — prioritizing their own interests over the promotion of democracy and human rights (Confidencial, 2025; WOLA, 2025).
It is essential for the U.S. to reevaluate its cooperation and assistance policies, as many of these governments do not act in accordance with the democratic values that Washington seeks to promote (CADTM, 2024). Often, they even hinder U.S. efforts in the region.
A concrete measure would be the revocation of visas for these elites and their families, forcing their children to live in the countries they publicly defend. If they truly promote socialist systems, they should have the chance to experience the "dream of misery" faced daily by the citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, as well as the structural problems that persist in China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran (NUSO, 2024).
Many of these "socialists of books, legends, and YouTube" defend ideals they have never lived (Infobae, 2019b). Therefore, it is unacceptable that they continue to benefit from the American system while exporting violence, corruption, and drug trafficking that affect security and quality of life within the U.S. (Convoca.pe, 2020).
The Venezuelan crisis is not only due to economic collapse and political repression but also to the consolidation of a parasitic elite that has amassed wealth and privileges under a false revolutionary discourse (Transparency International, 2018). This phenomenon illustrates the hypocrisy of those who proclaim anti-imperialist ideals while enjoying the luxuries of the capitalist world they publicly criticize (Infobae, 2019a; El País, 2018).
Privileges and Corruption of the Chavista Elite
The rise of the Venezuelan "boliburguesía" has been driven by the discretionary control of public resources, structural corruption, and the creation of international money laundering networks (OCCRP, 2021; Diario Las Américas, 2024).
Emblematic cases starkly illustrate this disconnect:
● María Gabriela Chávez, daughter of the late Hugo Chávez, has been pointed out as one of the richest women in Venezuela, with an estimated fortune of over $4 billion, mainly deposited in accounts abroad. She currently resides between New York and Buenos Aires and has held diplomatic positions that grant her immunity (Infobae, 2019a).
● Rosinés Chávez, also a daughter of Chávez, studied at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris while public education in Venezuela deteriorated to survival levels (El País, 2018).
● Yoswal and Walter Gavidia Flores, step-sons of Nicolás Maduro, have been photographed traveling to luxury destinations like Paris, Rome, and Bangkok, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on five-star hotels and exclusive boutiques (Infobae, 2022).
● Alejandro Andrés Ceballos, son of businessman linked to chavismo Alejandro Ceballos Jiménez, moved over $22 million through offshore accounts. The family owns luxury properties in Caracas, Miami, and Madrid, as well as racehorse stables in Florida (Convoca.pe, 2020).
● Daniella Cabello, daughter of Diosdado Cabello, lives a celebrity life on social media, with frequent luxury travel, while holding cultural positions in Venezuela. She was recently sanctioned by the U.S. government due to her links with corruption networks (Infobae, 2023).
● Luis Chacín Haddad and his son, linked to irregular contracts of Corpoelec, acquired properties in Orlando through shell companies, hiding the origin of their funds (Diario Las Américas, 2024).
● The Wakil and Sayegh Sakka families invested in at least five luxury properties in Miami, valued at over $19 million, including apartments in the exclusive Porsche Design Tower (El País, 2018).
● The Malpica Flores family, linked to Cilia Flores, acquired residences in Orlando and has been involved in corruption operations amounting to hundreds of millions, according to international investigations (El País, 2024).
These cases represent only a fraction of the extensive network of relatives of former officials, military personnel, judges, and businessmen linked to chavismo who have established residences and fortunes in the United States, Spain, Portugal, and other privileged destinations.
Meanwhile, millions of Venezuelans face meager salaries, lack of basic services, and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis (Transparency International, 2018).
Summary of the Pillaging: Transnational Impunity
The structural corruption of chavismo has been facilitated by the collusion of international banks, especially in Europe, that processed millions in Venezuelan public funds without proper oversight (Convoca.pe, 2020; OCCRP, 2021). Swiss, Portuguese, and German institutions — such as Credit Suisse, Julius Baer, CBH, Banco Espírito Santo, and Deutsche Bank — were key to hiding illicit fortunes.
International sanctions have had limited effects: while they have restricted certain movements, corruption networks continue to operate through cryptocurrencies, offshore companies, and new financial platforms. The fines imposed on complicit banks, although in the millions, have been insufficient to stop their recidivism (World Compliance Association, 2023; BBC, 2020).
Conclusion and Recommendations
The pillaging of Venezuela has been made possible by an international corruption structure that includes officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, and frontmen. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan population faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in the hemisphere.
It is essential that the United States and the international community:
Review their cooperation and foreign aid policies.
Apply more effective and specific sanctions against networks of frontmen and shell companies.
Strengthen immigration and financial control mechanisms to prevent these elites from continuing to operate with impunity from abroad.
Only coordinated international action, accompanied by the strengthening of Venezuelan civil society, can break the cycle of impunity and pave the way for a true democratic transition (NUSO, 2024).
References:
Aporrea. (2025, April 18). The dictator enslaves education workers. https://www.aporrea.org/amp/educacion/a340411.html
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https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-internacional-54240611.amp
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https://www.cadtm.org/El-apoyo-del-Banco-Mundial-y-del-FMI-a-las-dictaduras
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https://nuso.org/articulo/303-venezuela-elites-fugitivas/
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Transparency International. (2018). Corruption Perceptions Index.
https://files.transparencycdn.org/images/CPI-2018-Executive-Summary-in-Spanish.pdf
WOLA. (2025, February 4). Trump's suspension of U.S. international aid.
https://www.wola.org/es/analysis/la-suspension-de-trump-de-la-ayuda-internacional-estadounidense/
World Compliance Association. (2023, March 27). The 5 banks with the most sanctions for money laundering.
Jesús Daniel Romero, Retired Commander of Naval Intelligence of the United States. Co-founder and Senior Fellow of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute.
Author of the Amazon Best Seller "Final Flight: The Queen of Air", which recounts part of his experiences leading teams to combat drug trafficking cartels in Central America.
William Acosta, internationally renowned Private Investigator, is an officer of the New York Police Department. CEO of Equalizer Investigations. Senior Fellow of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute.
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