Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd, Washington continues to pressure the Venezuelan regime, currently led by Delcy Rodríguez, regarding issues such as trade liberalization, the release of political prisoners, and the dismantling of key figures within the government.
Venezuelan Officials Listed as Captured by U.S. Immigration Agency
Tareck El Aissami, former Minister of Industry and Production National of the Venezuelan regime, and Samark José López, described as a financial operator for the regime, have recently appeared on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website as having been captured. The U.S. Had been seeking these individuals, designating them as narcotics traffickers in February 2017 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Details regarding the circumstances of these captures remain unclear. The ICE information does not specify the dates of apprehension, nor whether El Aissami and López are currently in the United States or remain in Venezuela, where El Aissami was known to be until recently.
Previous Captures by Venezuelan Authorities
Both El Aissami and López were previously captured in March 2024 by the Venezuelan regime itself, which accused them of oil corruption and treason.
U.S. Demands Investigations into High-Ranking Venezuelan Officials
These developments coincide with a report from the Spanish newspaper ABC, indicating that Washington is requesting Delcy Rodríguez to allow investigations into nine Venezuelan officials. This list includes Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, Walter Jacob Gavidia Flores, Alex Saab, Raúl Gorrín, El Aissami, and López Bello.
According to the report, the U.S. Is seeking to verify the progress of collecting testimonies and investigations that could expose the corrupt practices of the regime, and potentially facilitate the capture and transfer of these individuals to the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What action has the U.S. Taken regarding Venezuelan officials?
The U.S. Has designated Tareck El Aissami and Samark José López as narcotics traffickers and offered a $5 million reward for information leading to López’s capture. ICE now lists both as captured.
Who is included in the list of nine Venezuelan officials the U.S. Is investigating?
The list includes Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, Walter Jacob Gavidia Flores, Alex Saab, Raúl Gorrín, Tareck El Aissami, Samark José López, and others.
What is the U.S. Requesting from Delcy Rodríguez?
The U.S. Is requesting that Delcy Rodríguez allow investigations into nine Venezuelan officials and potentially facilitate their capture and transfer to the United States.
How might the Venezuelan regime respond to these increasing pressures from the United States?
