Bern, January 5, 2026 — The Swiss Federal Council announced on Monday that it has frozen any assets held in Switzerland by deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and individuals associated with him. The measure, effective immediately and set to last four years, is a precautionary step aimed at preventing the potential outflow of illicitly acquired funds amid the escalating crisis in Venezuela.
The decision comes in the wake of a dramatic US military operation on January 3, in which American special forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. Maduro was subsequently transferred to New York to face longstanding US federal charges, including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and related conspiracies.
In an official statement, the Federal Council emphasized that the freeze is enacted under the Federal Act on the Freezing and Restitution of Illicit Assets (FIAA). “The Federal Council wants to ensure that any illicitly acquired assets cannot be transferred out of Switzerland in the current situation,” the government said. It added that, should future legal proceedings confirm the illicit origin of the funds, Switzerland would work to return them for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.
Importantly, the asset freeze does not extend to members of Venezuela’s current government and targets only Maduro and his close associates—many of whom were not previously covered under Switzerland’s existing sanctions regime against Venezuela, which has been in place since 2018 and includes travel bans and asset freezes on certain individuals.
No details have been disclosed regarding the specific amount or nature of any assets held by Maduro or his circle in Swiss banks, a country long known for its role in global finance and its policies on handling funds linked to politically exposed persons.
Switzerland has also expressed concern over the volatile situation in Venezuela, calling for de-escalation, restraint, and adherence to international law. The government reiterated its offer of “good offices” to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis, independent of the circumstances surrounding Maduro’s removal from power.
This move aligns with Switzerland’s established practice of freezing assets of former leaders in transitional or unstable periods to enable potential restitution, as seen in past cases involving deposed regimes.
The broader Venezuelan crisis continues to unfold, with international reactions ranging from condemnation of the US intervention to cautious monitoring of developments in Caracas.
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