Investigated billionaire Alejandro Betancourt lands in Caracas, linked to Delcy Rodríguez's oil revival plan

Alejandro Betancourt arrived in Caracas on a private plane in late June, igniting controversy as the under-investigated oil magnate is said to be advising Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on oil and mining reforms.

EL PAÍS-reviewed flight data reveal that Alejandro Betancourt landed in Caracas on June 27 aboard a private aircraft from Palm Beach, accompanied by his wife Andreina and a second passenger, despite attempts to keep the trip discreet. Betancourt, whose fortune grew from contracts awarded during the Chávez-Maduro era, is under investigation in Spain and Switzerland for money-laundering and tax fraud tied to alleged $42 million bribes of PDVSA officials.

Sources close to the capital say he is now advising Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on restoring the oil industry, as well as on mining projects and the nation’s debt restructuring, though no official confirmation exists. Former U.S. special envoy Mauricio Claver-Carone told one outlet that Washington has used Betancourt as a bridge to the Venezuelan government, calling him a “U.S. asset.” Confusing charter records for a July 22 flight show a swapped passenger list, suggesting deliberate obfuscation of his presence, while a July 30 departure listed investors from Heeney Capital, a firm linked to a White House-backed mining initiative. Meanwhile, Harry Sargeant III sold his stake in NABEP to a party close to Betancourt, further cementing the businessman’s influence over the country’s private oil sector.