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Sources have informed this site that PDVSA is asking its clients to settle receivables into two Dubai banks, Emirates NBD and Mashreq Bank. Accounts are allegedly controlled by MCC Petroleum, an oil service provider active in "Iraq, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia", as per a company's profile. MCC Petroleum claims to have a regional office in Houston.

Gotham City reports today that the Department of Justice sent an information request (MLAT) to Swiss counterparts, regarding Comercializadora San Roque S.A., a Panamanian shell controlled by the Urdaneta Aqui clan related to Carmelo Urdaneta Aqui (former Legal Counsel to the Venezuelan Ministry of Oil and Mining), involved in the

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations announced passage of VERDAD, an act to "confront the crisis in Venezuela." In all the years I've been reporting on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, this is the most promising action yet.

"Norway commends the parties for their efforts. We reiterate our willingness to continue supporting the search for a peaceful solution for the country." That's part of the official statement.

Venezuela has been producing incredible amounts of stories lately, about uprisings, arrangements with chavista officials, about Russian and American mercenaries, about meetings, about how Maduro has a plane waiting to leave with Cilia, about how billions of dollars looted from the country will be recovered by friends of Leopoldo and Guaidó, about military invasions, about the debt... There are parties that would like to see Guaido fail, so they have a chance to recoup some of the money. There are parties that are gearing up for years of litigation.

Compliance and KYC documents seen by this site show that Pictet opened three bank accounts (128588, 128589, 128590) for Adrian Velasquez and Carlos Gill in early December 2013. Isaac Topel was in charge of account openings on intros made by Alberto Valenzuela and Jose Antonio Gago. Accounts ending 88, 89 were for a credit card and a company belonging to Velasquez in Nevis. Account 128590 was for Gill.

Hugo Carvajal in Spain and the U.S. Javier Alvarado Ochoa in Spain, Andorra, the U.S, Venezuela. Alex Saab, German Rubio (aka Alvaro Pulido) and Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia, the U.S. Rafael Ramirez in the U.S., Portugal, Andorra, Spain. Fidel Ramirez in the U.S. Eudomario Carruyo in Andorra. Rafael Reiter, Alejandro Isturiz and Luis Carlos de Leon in Spain. Glenn Simpson, Peter Fritsch and Tom Catan in the U.S. Frank Holder in the U.S. Diego Salazar in Andorra, Brazil. Nervis Villalobos in Spain, Andorra, U.S., Venezuela, Portugal. Francisco Convit in the U.S. and Spain.

Great news this morning out of Spain: Javier Alvarado Ochoa, former chief of CORPOELEC and BARIVEN, godfather of Derwick Associates in granting no-bid contracts worth hundreds of millions and partner in crime of Rafael Ramirez and Nervis Villalobos, got arrested yesterday in Madrid on corruption and bribe payment charges.