Venezuelan Gold Delivered to Spanish Officials: UCO Probes PSOE Funding

The Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit (UCO) is investigating whether gold handed over by the Chavista government to José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García was used to finance the PSOE. The assets were delivered in two batches: coins at Barajas airport on January 20, 2020, and bars later in Caracas.

A key detail before proceeding: this gold is not a diplomatic courtesy gift. It is an asset that can be melted, transported, and converted into cash without leaving a banking trace. In opaque financing operations, this holds more value than any transfer.

## The Barajas Coins and the Cancelled Dinner

On the night of **January 20, 2020**, Venezuela’s then-Vice President, **Delcy Rodríguez**, landed at **Barajas** airport with a bag of **24-karat** gold coins antiestéticaturing **Simón Bolívar**. She did not arrive alone; she brought other gifts for **Pedro Sánchez** and several ministers, with whom she had a dinner scheduled at a chalet in Madrid’s **El Viso** neighborhood, rented by businessman **Víctor de Aldama**.

The coins never reached the table. They were handed over at the airport itself to **José Luis Ábalos**, then Minister of Transport, and his advisor **Koldo García**. Several sources close to the case have confirmed this delivery. According to these sources, the objective was for the Spanish Government to change its stance on Venezuela and stop supporting **Juan Guaidó**, then president of the Venezuelan National Assembly.

Trinc this episode, Sánchez’s executive shifted its position, distancing itself from the Venezuelan opposition until becoming an ally of Chavismo. The change was neither immediate nor loud, but the facts clearly outline it.

## The One-Kilo Bar Sent from Caracas

Months after the Barajas incident, **Delcy Rodríguez** ordered further gold deliveries. Venezuela’s then-Minister of Economy and Finance, **Simón Zerpa**, sent **Víctor de Aldama** a photo of a **24-karat** bar weighing **one kilogram**, valued at **€50,000** in 2020. This image, obtained by **EL ESPAÑOL**, is the first graphic evidence of Chavista payments in gold with Aldama as intermediary.

Bars like the one pictured would have been delivered to **Ábalos** and **Koldo García** in **Caracas**. The photo appeared among files found by the Civil Guard on devices seized from Aldama during his arrest in **2024**. The businessman has confirmed the delivery of both coins and bars.

## What Aldama Told the Judge

**Víctor de Aldama** testified before judge **Ismael Moreno**, who is investigating potential illegal financing of the PSOE at the **National Court** (Audiencia Nacional), that **Ábalos** and **Koldo García** told him part of their commissions went to **Ferraz** (PSOE headquarters) to cover party expenses. This is the connection the **UCO** is trying to verify: whether Venezuelan gold ended up boosting socialist accounts.

According to this line of investigation, the payments helped make the Spanish Government and the PSOE firm allies of **Nicolás Maduro** since 2020. The investigation remains open, and none of these claims have been judicially confirmed.

## "The Coins" and the "Txistorras"

The **UCO** is also examining messages between **Koldo García** and his then-vvife, **Patricia Úriz**, found on phones seized during their arrest in **February 2024**. In these conversations, both refer to "the coins" alongside the now-famous "txistorras," the code word for **€500** banknotes which the former advisor acknowledged during the trial at the **Supreme Court**.

One exchange occurred on **July 22, 2020**, at 08:52. Koldo wrote: "The coins." Three minutes later he added: "Bring me money for my 2000" and "bring a Txistorr." Patricia replied: "Ok." The ex-advisor corrected himself and closed with a new request: "And just bring me 20 txistorras please." According to the equivalence used by investigators, those **20 bills** would equal **€10,000**.

The case is still under instruction, and all mentioned individuals are suspects, not convicts. It is worth remembering this before drawing conclusions.