Venezuela crisis latest: US issues WARNING on Venezuela gold amid economic MELTDOWN | World | News

The tariffs have been placed in order to try and put pressure on ousting President Nicolas Maduro from power. National security adviser, John Bolton, tweeted traders should avoid dealing in gold, oil or any other commodity as opponents of Maduro’s government speculated a Russian-operated plane shipped gold out of the country. There have been reports 20 tonnes of precious material had been taken by a Russian-chartered Boeing 777 plane to Caracas on Wednesday.

Mr Bolton said: “My advice to bankers, brokers, traders, facilitators, and other businesses: don’t deal in gold, oil, or other Venezuelan commodities being stolen from the Venezuelan people by the Maduro mafia.

“We stand ready to continue to take action.”

Maduro’s government has been backed by China, Russia and Turkey with the Kremlin saying this week that it expects Venezuela to pay its debts.

The Boeing 777 plane was operated by Russia’s Nordwind Airlines and according to Venezuelan lawmaker Jose Guerra, a former central bank economist, who informed the National Assembly the plane was there to take some of the gold reserves.

READ MORE: Russia rubbishes claim plane sent to Venezuela for ’20 tonnes of gold’

There are reports Russian backed private military contractors were in the country to conduct secret missions there.

Both China and Beijing have invested heavily in the South American nation while there was speculation that £700million of gold had been shipped to Turkey last year.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido has been heavily supported by the US with Trump insisting on an immediate transition and immediate re-elections.

Trump said: “Spoke with Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaido today to congratulate him on his historic assumption of the presidency and reinforced strong United States support for Venezuela’s fight to regain its democracy.

READ MORE: Venezuela crisis: Donald Trump issues TRAVEL WARNING to Americans

“Large protests all across Venezuela today against Maduro. The fight for freedom has begun!”

Recently appointed US envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams said that Washington was looking around the world for more assets of the Maduro government including gold holdings and bank accounts.

Tensions have risen in the country following a wave of fresh protests on Wednesday.

Maduro however, still has the backing of the army although Mr Guaido has offered amnesty to any military personnel who want to defect.