FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
## GACN to Publish Major Investigation: Tainted Venezuelan Oil Official Directing Guyana’s US$759M Gas‑to‑Energy Project
**GEORGETOWN, Guyana – April 16, 2026** – The Guyana Anti‑Corruption Network (GACN) will release a comprehensive investigative report documenting how a former high‑ranking PDVSA official with frozen assets linked to a US$2.2 billion money laundering and bribery network currently serves as Project Director for Guyana’s flagship Gas‑to‑Energy (GTE) project at Wales.
The investigation, titled **“Tainted PDVSA Official Rubén Figuera Directs Guyana’s US$759M Gas‑to‑Energy Project: A Law Enforcement & Regulatory Appeal,”** will be published on the GACN website.
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### Key Findings to Be Released:
– **Frozen Assets:** Andorran authorities have frozen **US$5.3 million** belonging to Mr. Rubén Darío Figuera Olivari in connection with “overwhelming evidence of bribery and money laundering.”
– **Criminal Network:** Figuera was a key figure in a scheme that looted an estimated **US$2.2 billion** from Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA between 2007 and 2012, using shell companies such as Gashell International Inc. and the Reston Foundation.
– **Revolving Door:** While at PDVSA, Figuera awarded multimillion‑dollar contracts to **Lindsayca Inc.** , the same U.S.‑based contractor that later hired him as its Project Director for Guyana’s GTE project.
– **Current Role:** Figuera now oversees daily construction, manages financial claims, and directs a **US$759 million** contract – including an arbitration award of **US$102,679,839** issued against the Government of Guyana.
– **No Vetting:** GACN has found no evidence that Guyanese authorities conducted any due diligence or background check on Figuera prior to his appointment.
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### GACN Statement
*“This is not a matter of mere reputational risk. It is a law enforcement matter with potential criminal exposure for money laundering, bribery, and sanctions evasion. The Government of Guyana has a sovereign obligation to ensure that our strategic energy assets are not managed by individuals with documented histories of looting state oil companies. We are calling on SOCU, the FIU, SARA, and international partners to act immediately.”*
— **GACN Spokesperson**
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### Call to Action
The investigation includes specific requests to:
– **Guyana:** Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), Attorney General’s Chambers
– **United States:** DOJ/FCPA Unit, FBI, OFAC, FinCEN, EXIM Bank
– **United Kingdom:** National Crime Agency (NCA)
– **Spain:** Fiscalía Anticorrupción, SEPBLAC
– **Andorra:** Public Prosecutor’s Office, UIFAND
– **International:** INTERPOL, Egmont Group, CFATF, ARIN‑CARIB
GACN urges these agencies to launch investigations, freeze assets, file mutual legal assistance requests, and consider sanctions designations or extradition proceedings.
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*GACN is an independent civil society organisation dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in the management of Guyana’s public resources.*
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