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4 clusters · 26 sources · 26 days · First seen · Last updated

Corruption investigations involving Víctor de Aldama

Overview

Investigations into businessman Víctor de Aldama have expanded across different sectors of alleged corruption in Spain. Initially, the European Public Prosecutor's Office identified a money laundering scheme involving approximately 27.9 million euros. Between 2022 and 2024, Spanish companies in the hydrocarbon sector reportedly transferred funds to Portuguese shell companies to evade VAT and launder illicit gains. Of the identified funds in Portugal, approximately 11.8 million euros have been seized. This investigation is linked to a broader probe into a suspected 182 million euro fraud within the hydrocarbon industry. In the ‘hydrocarbon case’, the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) has requested that Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional order the immediate freezing of bank accounts belonging to Portuguese companies linked to Aldama and his partner, Claudio Rivas. Identified entities include Atmosferaudaz Unipessoal, Proezencontrada, and Cuboflamejante, which reportedly received funds from Spanish structures such as Salamanca Fuel Center and Casmar Hidrocarburos. Regarding Rivas, investigators noted that EF Iber Combustiveis received capital from Spanish entities like Villafuel and Still Growing. Recent developments specify that the network is accused of a tax fraud totaling approximately 182.5 million euros through the company Villafuel SL. The UCO has documented the diversion of over 78 million euros to Portugal, though a discrepancy exists between the 78.3 million euros identified by the UCO and the 56.5 million euros confirmed by Portuguese authorities. Additionally, investigators have requested a European investigation order to determine if funds were used to purchase cryptocurrencies in Ireland. Specifically, they are tracking a transfer of 213,663 euros from Letras e Contrates to Payward Europe LTD, the parent company of the Kraken exchange, through multiple transactions in 2022.

Entities

Víctor de Aldama · Guardia Civil · Santiago Pedraz · Audiencia Nacional · Spain

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Portugal linked to suspected hydrocarbon fraud investigation

    Journalist Ketty Garat alleges that Víctor de Aldama used shell companies in Elvas, Portugal, to facilitate tax evasion and manage funds related to a hydrocarbon fraud investigation.

  2. [CRIME] 13 sources
    Aldama hydrocarbon fraud: UCO seeks to block Portuguese accounts

    The UCO has requested the blocking of Portuguese bank accounts linked to a 182 million euro hydrocarbon fraud involving Víctor de Aldama, with funds potentially diverted into Irish cryptocurrencies.

  3. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Spanish prosecutors corroborate Aldama's bribery allegations against Grupo Azvi

    Spanish anti-corruption prosecutors state that allegations of bribes in public works contracts made by Víctor de Aldama have been corroborated by evidence, impacting construction firm Grupo Azvi.

  4. [CRIME] 10 sources
    Víctor de Aldama implicated in 27.9 million euro laundering scheme

    The European Public Prosecutor's Office has implicated Víctor de Aldama in a 27.9 million euro money laundering scheme using Portuguese shell companies to evade VAT in the Spanish hydrocarbon sector.

Sources

diariodecadiz.es · diariodevalladolid.es · diariofinanciero.com · diarioluso-galaico.com · economiafinanzas.com · elcorreoweb.es · eldiadecordoba.es · eldiario.es · elplural.com · empreendedorismo.pt · granadahoy.com · huelvainformacion.es · labandera.es · lacronicabadajoz.com · lacronicadebadajoz.elperiodicoextremadura.com · lacronicadesalamanca.com · lahora.cl · larazon.es · lavanguardia.com · levante-emv.com · malagahoy.es · moncloa.com · ocio.diariodemallorca.es · theobjective.com · valladolidplural.com · web.eldia.es

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history