Venezuela Arrests 20 Over Unofficial Dollar Exchange Rates

Venezuela Cracks Down on Unofficial Dollar Exchange Rates: 20 Arrested Caracas, Venezuela – In a move to stabilize the Venezuelan economy, authorities have arrested 20 individuals linked to the popular Instagram account, Monitor Dólar. This account was known for publishing daily unofficial exchange rates of the US dollar, often differing significantly from the official rate. The arrests follow a statement by Diosdado Cabello, a prominent government official, announcing the operation. "These investigations were carried out discreetly and without incident," Cabello stated. The government contends that these unofficial rates fuel economic instability, harming the Venezuelan people. The arrests have raised questions about freedom of information and the government's strategy to control the volatile currency market. While the official exchange rate remains at 96.86 bolívares per US dollar, the impact of this crackdown on the parallel market remains to be seen. The arrests highlight the ongoing economic challenges faced by Venezuela and the government's efforts to address them.