Venezuela arrests 21 people in anti-corruption operation, and 11 more are wanted.
The investigation, which began in October, is focused on the state-owned oil company, PDVSA. The officials involved could be charged with treason.
247 - An anti-corruption operation in Venezuela led to the detention of 10 officials and 11 businessmen, the country's attorney general said on Saturday, adding that arrest warrants had been issued for 11 more people.
The investigation, which began in October, is focused on the state-owned oil company, PDVSA, a government entity that oversees cryptocurrency operations, and the judiciary, and this week led to the resignation of the country's powerful oil minister, Tareck El Aissami, who served the government for two decades. The head of the state oil company, Pedro Rafael Tellechea, was announced by President Nicolás Maduro as his replacement.
"We are talking about one of the most sinister conspiracies of recent years, involving authorities, businessmen who benefited from corruption, and young people -- including the so-called female mafia -- who participated in corruption and money laundering," Attorney General Tarek Saab told reporters.
A Venezuelan entity that oversees the use of cryptocurrency for official transactions was given the authority to sell oil shipments without administrative oversight, Saab said. Many of the buyers did not pay appropriately for the oil, he added.
The 21 people arrested are accused of misappropriation of public funds, money laundering, influence peddling, and criminal conspiracy. The authorities involved could be charged with treason, the attorney general said. (With Reuters).