MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Maduro and cronies “grey listed” as suspects of money laundering and terrorism financing

Maduro and more than 50 Venezuelan nationals are considered “high risk” for laundering money and financing terrorism, according to Panama

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro along with more than 50 Venezuelan nationals are considered “high risk” for laundering money and financing terrorism, according to an advisory issued by Panama's economy and finance ministry.

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab and electoral board president Tibisay Lucena were also named in the advisory along with Socialist Party No. 2 Diosdado Cabello, the elder brother of late president Hugo Chavez, and 16 firms in Venezuela.

The economy and finance ministry's National Commission Against Money Laundering released the list last week.

Maduro's populist government has repeatedly vowed to combat corruption that has plagued Venezuela and its oil industry for decades, contributing to its devastating economic collapse. But critics say the administration, despite making graft-related arrests, is still crippled by financial malfeasance.

Millions of Venezuelans suffer from food and medicine shortages, and the currency has fallen 99.99% against the U.S. dollar on the black market since Maduro came to power in 2013.

Panama's advisory calls on financial and non-financial entities in the country to redouble efforts to prevent risk in any transaction involving the listed people and companies.

“It's recommended... that they adopt policies and procedures of ample due diligence,” says the document.

The United States has slammed Caracas with a wave of sanctions and other measures to pressure Maduro for change, and is considering adding broad oil sanctions that would target the linchpin of Venezuela's economy.