New revelations show Venezuela quietly shipped massive amounts of gold to Switzerland during the early Maduro years (2013–2016).
📦 The numbers are staggering: • 113 tons of gold sent to Swiss refineries • Worth around 4.1–4.7B Swiss francs (~$5.2B) • Melted down in one of the world’s biggest gold hubs 🇨🇭
⏳ Why it happened: Venezuela’s economy was collapsing, cash was running dry, and the government was desperate for hard currency to survive. Gold — meant to protect national reserves — became a lifeline.
🛑 What stopped it: In 2017, EU sanctions hit. Switzerland followed. The gold pipeline shut down overnight.
❗ Why this matters now: This wasn’t just trade — it was selling the nation’s safety net during a crisis.
Big questions remain: Who benefited? Where did the money go? And why were national assets drained while citizens suffered?