Monitoring Desk
CARACAS: Venezuelan authorities are examining the business interests associated with Mireya Blavia de Cisneros, widow of late businessman Oswaldo Cisneros, including telecommunications operator Digitel, amid allegations involving tax liabilities, estate administration and unfulfilled investment commitments.
The scrutiny, according to Venezuelan government sources, extends across telecommunications, real estate and oil interests and includes questions over the administration of Oswaldo Cisneros’s estate and family trust following his death.
Venezuelan Supreme Court records confirm that Mireya Blavia de Cisneros and members of the Cisneros family became involved in legal proceedings concerning the acceptance and administration of Oswaldo Cisneros’s estate. In a January 2022 ruling, the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber granted a constitutional review sought by Mireya Blavia de Cisneros and took up several related proceedings concerning the estate and testamentary matters.
Government officials now allege that the estate may face significant inheritance and succession-tax liabilities. One official claimed that the estate had been valued by Venezuela’s tax authority, SENIAT, at more than $10 billion and that inheritance tax calculated at 30 per cent could exceed $3 billion. The claim could not be independently verified from publicly available tax records.
Officials have also alleged irregularities concerning the family trust and adoptions involving members of the Cisneros family. Court records do confirm that the estate proceedings involved questions concerning the legal status of several heirs, including children whose adoptions had taken place abroad. However, the court record does not establish the fraud allegations made by Venezuelan officials.
The wider investigation also focuses on Digitel, one of Venezuela’s major telecommunications operators, and questions about investment, taxes and the fulfilment of business commitments.
The oil sector has provided another major point of contention. Bloomberg LÃnea reported in August that Venezuela’s Petroleum Ministry revoked DP Delta Finance BV’s minority participation in the Petrodelta joint venture after alleging that the company had failed to meet investment and production commitments. DP Delta’s interests are now overseen by Mireya Blavia-Cisneros and the Cisneros heirs.
According to the Bloomberg LÃnea report, the 2016 investment plan envisaged more than $1 billion in financing and production of about 115,000 barrels per day. Production was reported at around 9,000 barrels per day in July 2026. The Cisneros family has disputed the Venezuelan government’s action, alleging that its oil assets and operating rights were improperly taken and seeking compensation.
Venezuelan officials have further alleged that political connections under the former government of Nicolás Maduro helped protect the family’s commercial interests. Those allegations have not been independently established.
Maduro was captured by US forces in Caracas in January 2026 and subsequently taken to the United States to face criminal charges, according to Reuters and other major international outlets. Delcy RodrÃguez subsequently became Venezuela’s interim president.
A legal source representing Mireya Blavia de Cisneros acknowledged serious management and investment problems affecting the family businesses but attributed some difficulties to US sanctions and said she would cooperate with authorities.
A former senior executive who acted on her behalf also alleged that the businesses had been treated as a source of cash while investment was neglected for years, resulting in operational and workplace problems.
The allegations concerning tax evasion, corruption, fraudulent adoptions and links to criminal networks remain allegations and would require findings by competent authorities or courts to be established as facts.
