Aldama's contacts under the scrutiny of the UCO investigation

A new report on the hydrocarbon scheme comes to light with the focus on Víctor de Aldama. 

UCO investigators have highlighted the extensive contact list Víctor de Aldama had. It abounds with his contacts with "multinationals, political entities in the international arena, and sports clubs."

According to the agents, Claudio Rivas and Víctor de Aldama would be the main masterminds of the business structure and the operation that perfects the fraud. The agents define Aldama as an indispensable member due to his business connections, contacts, knowledge of the hydrocarbon sector. Also for the control he exerts in all areas of the organization's operations, logistics, fiscal, banking, and real estate.

At the same time, a new citation includes María Luisa Rivas as "deputy director of the criminal organization."

All this within the framework of a network of contacts of Víctor de Aldama. Who is at the epicenter of some of the corruption cases surrounding the Government, as well as a network of 26 companies.

They were two key elements in the hydrocarbon scheme that would have defrauded more than 182 million euros. This is stated in the latest report of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard incorporated into the case led by Judge Santiago Pedraz, of the National Court.

The document shows the complex business network that the UCO attributes to Víctor de Aldama, businessman Claudio Rivas, and María Luisa Rivas. They are considered at the core of the allegedly criminal network.

It also cites businessmen Francisco Javier Cillán, Pedro Antonio Marín, and Félix Aparicio. These as key in the "cooperation" in the design of the corporate structure or as "qualified frontmen."

Similarly, the identities of nine other unqualified frontmen are recorded. Their identities would have been used to facilitate transactions or business operations within the scheme.

The New Evidence Aldama Requests to Incorporate into the Koldo Case and That Affects the Delcygate

Víctor de Aldama has asked the Supreme Court to include the recordings of the visit of Venezuela's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, to Spain. That trip took place last January 2020, and in fact, they are already in the possession of the Investigating Court number 31 of Madrid. All to prove that he was indeed at the airport then to receive her.

Something that doesn't match what was declared by the former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos.

Businessman Víctor de Aldama highlights that in a document presented by Ábalos in December 2024, he addressed the alleged contradictions. In them, the facilitator would have incurred, and specifically refers to the former minister "openly denied" being at Barajas airport. According to Aldama, in his statements "he didn't tell the truth."

In fact, Aldama's defense points out in the report that:

"As the only proof of Aldama's presence at the airport to receive Delcy. Beyond the multiple photographs already disseminated in various media, are precisely the recordings made by the security cameras at Madrid airport. It is requested that an order be issued for a copy of the recordings made regarding the arrival of the plane carrying the Vice President of Venezuela."

With those recordings, it could be proven that he was at the airport and would reinforce his statement. In his opinion, it would also demonstrate that he assumed "tasks typical of international relations."

Additionally, he adds that it would be proven "the evolved degree of relationship he already maintained with Ábalos and Koldo García in January 2020. And his involvement in the current Government of Spain."