Switzerland has frozen all financial assets in the country belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a move that also targets his closest associates, the Swiss government announced on Monday.

The authorities said the measure is intended to prevent the transfer or withdrawal of these funds.

They added that if the assets are found to have been obtained illegally, the money will be redirected to benefit the Venezuelan people.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry in Bern has not disclosed whether Maduro currently holds assets in Switzerland, nor has it provided an estimate of the potential value of any frozen funds.