Millions of Venezuelan bolivars seized in Iraq’s Central Bank
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Division for the Repression of Smuggling seized a safe from the Central Bank of Iraq containing millions of Venezuelan bolivars
According to the delegate Fabricio Oliveira responsible for the operation, the safe was obtained in Cajú, a neighborhood in downtown Rio de Janeiro. He also said that the millions of Venezuelan bolivars that were seized are being accounted for.
The authority also explained that there are indications that the money that was in a transporter would be sent to the United States, specifically to the city of Miami. The two people responsible for holding the cash were surprised at the time of the police action and accused of money laundering and foreign exchange evasion.
The case will be directed to the Justice and Federal Police. About 10 people participated in the operation, including investigators and prosecutors. The police came to the money thanks to an anonymous information that showed that there were foreign currencies in that locality.
In spite of the great amount of bills; the unprecedented inflation that Venezuela suffers devalues the currency. Therefore, what has value is the paper used for the production of Venezuelan banknotes, which is in great demand on the black market to be used in the process of counterfeiting U.S. currency.
It is worth remembering that Venezuela closed 2018 with an inflation of 130,000 % according to official data, although the Parliament and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assure that the price increase surpassed 1,000,000 % last year and estimate that it will reach 10,000,000 % this year.
L.Sáenz
Source: Banca & Negocios
