Venezuela arrests former Minister of Industry and Oil Tellechea

CARACAS – Venezuelan authorities have arrested former Minister of Industry and Oil Pedro Tellechea, Attorney General Tarek Saab said Monday, citing the alleged commission of “serious crimes against the highest interests of the nation.”

In a statement on Instagram, Saab said Tellechea was arrested early Sunday alongside his closest associates, whom he did not name.

Tellechea ceded control of part of state oil company PDVSA to a company controlled by US intelligence services, Saab added, without providing further details.

Tellechea announced his resignation Friday in a message on social media, citing “health issues.”

The same day, President Nicolas Maduro announced the replacement of Tellechea, his close ally Alex Saab. Alex Saab was released in a prisoner swap with the United States late last year, after being detained on money laundering charges. REUTERS