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NEW: As Venezuela's economy collapses, we reveal how dozens of army generals have profited from private companies.
Chief among them is Venezuela's defense minister — now wanted by the US gov't — who has business ties through his family in the US. 1/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/
Chief among them is Venezuela's defense minister — now wanted by the US gov't — who has business ties through his family in the US. 1/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/
Close to one-third of the Venezuelan army’s top brass hold positions in companies authorized to do business with the gov't.
This story focuses on 35 generals who sit on the boards of private enterprises, many of which are getting state contracts. 2/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/how-venezuela-bought-military-loyalty
This story focuses on 35 generals who sit on the boards of private enterprises, many of which are getting state contracts. 2/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/how-venezuela-bought-military-loyalty
Experts say these financial favors ensured the generals’ loyalty to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
Some even used their companies to sell materials they looted from state projects, a former officer told OCCRP. 3/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/how-venezuela-bought-military-loyalty#the-essence-of-madurismo
Some even used their companies to sell materials they looted from state projects, a former officer told OCCRP. 3/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/how-venezuela-bought-military-loyalty#the-essence-of-madurismo
The ex-sergeant, who fled to Colombia, recalled watching a housing project for the poor in a region east of Caracas being ransacked.
“I tell you, out of 100 tons of [steel] rebars that arrived, only one ton went to the Housing Mission in Anzoátegui state." 4/
![The ex-sergeant, who fled to Colombia, recalled watching a housing project for the poor in a region east of Caracas being ransacked.“I tell you, out of 100 tons of [steel] rebars that arrived, only one ton went to the Housing Mission in Anzoátegui state." 4/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVP8ZeoUUAYM5Dw.jpg "The ex-sergeant, who fled to Colombia, recalled watching a housing project for the poor in a region east of Caracas being ransacked.“I tell you, out of 100 tons of [steel] rebars that arrived, only one ton went to the Housing Mission in Anzoátegui state.\" 4/")
“I tell you, out of 100 tons of [steel] rebars that arrived, only one ton went to the Housing Mission in Anzoátegui state." 4/
One general whose family has made millions is Venezuela’s Defense Minister: Vladimir Padrino Lopez.
Padrino is one of several senior officials recently indicted by the US gov’t, along with President Nicolás Maduro, on drug-trafficking charges. 5/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/the-general-and-his-corporate-labyrinth
Padrino is one of several senior officials recently indicted by the US gov’t, along with President Nicolás Maduro, on drug-trafficking charges. 5/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/the-general-and-his-corporate-labyrinth
While Padrino describes himself as a "Bolivarian soldier" devoted to socialism on Twitter, one former colleague told OCCRP that he always liked the good life.
“I never saw him as a communist...He liked living well, he loved America.” 6/
https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/the-general-and-his-corporate-labyrinth#he-liked-the-good-life
“I never saw him as a communist...He liked living well, he loved America.” 6/
https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/the-general-and-his-corporate-labyrinth#he-liked-the-good-life
Padrino sits amid a network of properties and companies in the US and Venezuela, controlled by his family, worth millions of dollars.
One business in Sunrise, FL, profits by catering to Venezuelans fleeing poverty and persecution. 7/
One business in Sunrise, FL, profits by catering to Venezuelans fleeing poverty and persecution. 7/
Trámites Consulares — which lists Padrino’s beauty queen cousin as the director — offers translation and passport services and even targets Venezuelans seeking political asylum in the US. 8/
While declining oil prices and general mismanagement have contributed towards Venezuela’s reeling economy, these investigations reveal how military elites may have hindered political reform for their own self-interest. 9/ https://www.occrp.org/en/revolution-to-riches/
