January 6, 2026 | 03:16 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Federal Council of Switzerland on Monday froze assets held in Switzerland linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following his capture in a recent U.S. military operation. Bern stated that the step was taken to prevent potentially illegal funds from being transferred abroad.
As reported by Anadolu, the decision was made based on the Federal Act on the Freezing and Restitution of Illicitly Acquired Assets of Politically Exposed Persons (FIAA). This is a legal framework designed to protect assets when a foreign leader loses power.
The Swiss government stated that the action is preventative and does not depend on how the loss of power occurred or whether it complied with international law.
According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the asset freeze applies to Maduro and his associates, but not to current members of the Venezuelan government, as reported by Swissinfo.
This step adds to the sanctions against Venezuela that have been in place since 2018 under the Swiss Embargo Act, which already included asset freezes targeting other individuals.
A spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said the order affects 37 individuals associated with Maduro.
Authorities declined to disclose the value of the frozen assets. The freeze takes effect immediately and will remain in place for four years unless lifted earlier, as reported by Yahoo News.
Swiss officials emphasized that the determining factor triggering the action was the fall from power, allowing Venezuela, as the home country, to initiate legal assistance processes in the future regarding assets allegedly acquired illegally.
If the process confirms illegal origins, Switzerland intends to ensure the funds benefit the Venezuelan people.
This action follows U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on Saturday that a U.S. military operation in Venezuela led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The couple was flown to New York and detained in a Brooklyn detention center, facing U.S. federal charges related to drug trafficking and alleged collaboration with a group designated as a terrorist organization.
Maduro has denied the allegations, while officials in Caracas have called for their release, according to Anadolu.
In its statement, the Swiss government described the situation in Venezuela as unstable and stated that it is closely monitoring developments.
Bern also called for de-escalation and restraint, reaffirming its readiness to offer assistance to support peaceful solutions, while maintaining asset freezes to prevent suspicious fund outflows during the current uncertainty.
Read: Expert Warns Rising US-Venezuela Tensions Could Disrupt Energy Supply, Global Logistics
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