The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury has been looking into Vladimir Padrino, Venezuelan vice president of Political, Security and Peace Sovereignty (Venezuelan Minister of Defense), and his role as a close key figure to Nicolás Maduro.
Padrino’s official role is focused on maintaining loyalty of the US armed forces but is accused of buying property in Costa Rica with money from drug trafficking. His name does not appear in any companies or real estate in Costa Rica but, according to the DIS, authorities are “corroborating names of possible relatives” to Padrino. It is possible he sent the money to his girlfriend or a relative and the property was bought with fake documents.
The investigation started even before he took office last August. They are being carried out with the help of the Ministry of Security and the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration and the Foreign Ministry.
“Vladimir Padrino, do not forget to include your girlfriend in Costa Rica and the ranch that you bought with the money you got from the drug traffickers,” US Senator Marco Rubio said.
