The Regime of Nicholas Maduro Last weekend, proceedings began in Venezuela to arrest Chavista judges and mayors.

According to the official statement of the National Anti-Corruption Police of Venezuela, requested the Public ministry prosecute an undetermined number of citizens who “exercised functions” in public power and who “could be involved in serious acts of administrative corruption and embezzlement.” The measures would be the result of a prisoner between the brothers Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez, and Tareck El Aissami.

The latter, Venezuelan Petroleum Minister Tareck El Aissami, resigned from his post on Monday at the same time as the investigation into corruption involving the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) opened, for which a former manager had already been arrested.

“Following the investigations launched into serious corruption at PDVSA; I have made the decision to tender my resignation as oil minister in order to fully support, guide and support this process,” El Aissami said in a post on Twitter.

El Aissami, in office since April 2020, also announced his support for a new government “crusade” against corruption, which has spread to the judiciary and parliament.

two detainees

The National Anti-Corruption Police on Sunday detained two men associated with El Aissami: PDVSA’s Vice President of Commerce and Quality Supply, Colonel Antonio Pérez Suárez, and Joselit Ramírez, the National Superintendent of Crypto Assets of Venezuela (SUNACRIP), who manages the funds of the oil industry through cryptocurrencies.

The arrest came after police launched an investigation into senior officials “who may be involved in serious acts of corruption and embezzlement”, for which Deputy Sheriff Hugbel Roa was also arrested; lawyer Cristóbal Cornieles, president of the criminal circle of Caracas; an anti-terrorism judge; and a mayor.

The Venezuelan oil industry has been the target of other corruption investigations, which ended with the arrest of dozens of PDVSA employees and two oil ministers, Eulogio Del Pino and Nelson Martínez, who died in state custody.

Rafael Ramírez, who served as oil minister from 2002 to 2014 and is a fugitive abroad, is also accused of embezzlement.