The international crackdown on the financial network of chavismo has welcomed a key player: Switzerland. On January 5, 2026, the Swiss Federal Council ordered the immediate freezing of all assets located in Swiss territory linked to Nicolás Maduro and individuals associated with his inner circle, a decision that will initially be valid for four years.
This measure was officially announced by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) and is not a mere symbolic gesture: it is a high-level preventive action designed to prevent the transfer, concealment, or dispersal of assets that Swiss authorities consider as potentially acquired unlawfully.
Contrary to what the Venezuelan regime has tried to establish as a narrative, Switzerland does not formally link this decision to Maduro’s capture or the discussion about the legitimacy of his departure from power. The Federal Council emphasized: “The reasons behind Mr. Maduro’s fall from power do not play a decisive role in the freezing of assets under the Federal Law on International Assistance.”
The key point here is different: the existence of a “fall from power” opens the door for the Venezuelan state or international judicial authorities to claim assets allegedly obtained through corruption, money laundering, or abuse of power. The freezing then acts as a precautionary measure to preserve those funds.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the order affects 37 individuals, including former officials, frontmen, and key figures in the chavista financial apparatus, many of whom were not included in previous Swiss sanctions.
Authorities stated that the freezing does not apply to members of the current Venezuelan government, suggesting that Bern is precisely delineating the beneficiaries of the previous system, not the transitional state apparatus.
Legal basis: from sanctions to the Law on Illicit Assets
The decision relies on two Swiss legal pillars:
Sanctions in effect since 2018, imposed under the Swiss Embargo Law, which already included economic and travel restrictions against Venezuela.
The Foreign Illicit Assets Act (FIAA), which allows Switzerland to immobilize suspiciously sourced assets belonging to foreign leaders, even without a prior conviction, when there is a risk of misappropriation or capital flight.
This framework turns Switzerland—historically a financial haven—into a hostile territory for opaque capital from authoritarian origins.
What could happen to that money? The DFAE was explicit: “If future legal proceedings reveal that the funds were unlawfully acquired, Switzerland will strive to use them for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.”
This point is crucial. It’s not just about blocking accounts, but also about opening the door to international restitution processes, an increasing trend in Europe regarding assets linked to regimes accused of structural corruption.
In the meantime, Switzerland assures that it closely monitors the “volatile” situation in Venezuela, has called for de-escalation and respect for international law, and reiterated its willingness to offer diplomatic good offices for a peaceful resolution.
The Swiss freezing is not an isolated incident: it signals that the financial phase of the Venezuelan case is just beginning. Banks, trusts, private foundations, and opaque structures in Europe could soon come under scrutiny.
On the international stage, money is starting to speak. And this time, it’s not in favor of chavismo.