(CNN Spanish) — A source close to the Venezuelan judicial system confirmed to CNN that in the last few hours the National Anti-Corruption Police detained officials Joselit Ramírez Camacho, head of the National Superintendence of Cryptoactives and related activities (Sunacrip); the President of the Caracas Judicial Circuit, Cristóbal Cornieles Perret; and the mayor of the Las Tejerías municipality, in Aragua State, Pedro Hernández. In addition, without specifying names, he warned that other civil servants have been arrested.
CNN tried to contact Ramírez Camacho, Cornieles Perret and Hernández, as well as their defense, but so far has not received a response.
This occurs hours after a statement was released in which the National Anti-Corruption Police reported that it requested the Public Ministry to prosecute individuals linked to the judiciary, the oil industry and the municipal mayors who, according to the letter, “could be involved in serious acts of administrative corruption and embezzlement.”
They also highlight that they carried out an in-depth investigation for months that, as described in the text, “targets citizens who exercised functions in the judiciary, the oil industry and in some municipal mayors of the country.”
Let us remember that, in June 2020, the United States publicly offered a reward of US$5 million to anyone who facilitates the capture of Ramírez Camacho.
According to the Justice Department statement, Ramírez would have ties to alleged drug lords, including the current vice president of the economic area and Venezuela’s oil minister, Tareck El Aissami. Ramírez is indicted by the Southern District of the United States for evading sanctions related to narcotics and for alleged money laundering while holding public office in Venezuela.
El Aissami responded in February 2017 through a letter published in the American newspaper New York Times, assuring that it is a false accusation and asked the American authorities to rectify.
The Venezuelan government reacted in June 2020 through a statement to the sanctions issued against Ramírez Camacho, rejecting what they considered an attack and an act of persecution against the official and questioning the then President, Donald Trump.