Switzerland Freezes Maduro’s Assets After Shock US Capture

In a swift response to the dramatic change in Venezuela’s leadership, the Swiss government on Monday announced the immediate freezing of all assets held in Switzerland by former President Nicolás Maduro and his close associates. The move by the Federal Council in Bern comes just 48 hours after a high-stakes US military operation in Caracas resulted in the capture of Maduro, who was subsequently flown to New York to face federal charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

Describing the current climate in Venezuela as “volatile,” Swiss authorities stated that the freeze is a precautionary measure designed to prevent the flight of potentially illicit funds during the political transition. The order, which takes effect immediately, is slated to remain in force for four years unless otherwise updated. Bern emphasized that the action is not a judgment on the legality of Maduro’s removal, but a procedural necessity to facilitate any future mutual legal assistance should his wealth be proven to have been acquired through corruption.

The Swiss Federal Council clarified that this new measure specifically targets Maduro’s inner circle and does not extend to members of the current Venezuelan government or the state’s diplomatic infrastructure. The move supplements an existing sanctions regime imposed on Venezuela since 2018, which already included a variety of financial restrictions. In a statement, the government affirmed its commitment to the Venezuelan people, noting that if funds are eventually confirmed as stolen or laundered, Switzerland will seek a mechanism to ensure they are returned to benefit the citizens of the South American nation.

The timing of the freeze coincides with Maduro’s scheduled first appearance in a Manhattan federal court on Monday. While images of the blindfolded leader on board the USS Iwo Jima have circulated globally, the Swiss government has maintained a more measured diplomatic tone, calling for “de-escalation and restraint” from all parties involved. Switzerland has long been a key financial hub for Venezuelan elites, and while the exact value of the newly frozen assets has not been disclosed, analysts suggest the move could impact hundreds of millions of dollars tied to the former regime.

As the US maintains its stance that the operation was a strike against a “criminal narco-state,” Switzerland’s decision adds another layer of international pressure on the dismantled Maduro administration. By invoking the Federal Act on the Freezing and Restitution of Illicit Assets, Bern is signaling its intent to cooperate with future international investigations into the vast web of offshore accounts allegedly used by Caracas officials over the past decade.