The arrest of Tareck El Aissami, former oil minister and ex-president of PDVSA, marks one of the most significant political developments in Venezuela in recent years.

Once regarded as one of the most powerful figures within the ruling establishment, his detention over a sweeping corruption scheme in the oil sector strikes at the core of Nicolás Maduro’s government.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab confirmed that El Aissami was arrested alongside former finance minister Simón Zerpa.

Both are accused of leading a large criminal network operating inside state institutions, particularly PDVSA. Prosecutors say they will face charges related to serious financial crimes and the diversion of public funds.

El Aissami vanished from public view in March 2023 after resigning amid the so-called “PDVSA-Crypto” scandal, which exposed alleged irregular oil sales paid through cryptocurrencies and never transferred to state accounts. Since then, his whereabouts had fueled intense speculation.

Rise to power

El Aissami’s political career was deeply rooted in the rise of chavismo. A lawyer and criminologist, he served as interior minister under Hugo Chávez and later as governor of Aragua state.

Under Maduro, he became vice president in charge of the economy in 2017, consolidating his influence during a period of unrest and economic collapse.

Later appointed oil minister, El Aissami took control of PDVSA, Venezuela’s economic backbone. By then, the company was already weakened by years of mismanagement, sanctions and persistent corruption allegations.

Charges and political impact

Prosecutors accuse El Aissami of treason, embezzlement, influence peddling, money laundering and criminal association. Authorities claim he bypassed administrative controls to sell oil products through opaque mechanisms involving cryptocurrencies, causing massive losses to the state.

Internationally, El Aissami had long been under scrutiny. The U.S. government sanctioned him in 2017 for alleged links to drug trafficking, and his arrest now underscores the depth of Venezuela’s long-running oil corruption crisis.

His detention sends a strong signal within the ruling party, while raising new questions about accountability, power struggles and the future of governance under Maduro in Venezuela.