Cabello

Personally, the source was hoping to expose Cabello's dealings but had to proceed carefully given how "dangerous" the minister was.

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011

In a damning aside, the economist described Cabello as a potential "Montesinos-like" figure within the Chávez regime, referring to the sinister Peruvian intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos who aided the Fujimori regime back in the 1990s.

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011

Perhaps, Chávez himself had grown concerned about Cabello but "was unable to diminish" his colleague's influence.

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011

During a lunch, a "well respected political economist" told embassy staff that Minister of Public Works and Housing Diosdado Cabello "was expanding his network of corruption into the financial sector."

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011

Cabello, the source claimed, had joined with several other veterans of Chávez's 1992 attempted coup and this "fascist and military" trend "was gaining ascendancy within Chavismo" to the detriment of older leftists.

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011

Embassy staff was unable to confirm all of the reports about Cabello, but believed "that people close to the government have been buying, or trying to buy several small banks, and we would not be surprised if Diosdado Cabello and his associates were involved."

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011

Max Cabello for The Wall Street Journal Over the past decade, as Peru transformed into one of the world's fastest growing economies, more Peruvians began snapping up Topitop polo shirts and cargo pants.

The Andean Zara 2011

Max Cabello for The Wall Street Journal With stores strategically located in long-ignored barrios and provincial towns, Topitop has seen its sales expand six-fold since 2001.

The Andean Zara 2011

Mr. Jaua, who analysts say comes from the most leftist branch of Mr. Chávez's movement and has close ties to Cuba, could be challenged by other powerful Chávez followers such as Diosdado Cabello, a former soldier now a powerful congressman who controls much of the political apparatus of Mr. Chávez's socialist party.

Chávez Illness Sparks Succession Talk José de Córdoba 2011

Going further, the economist claimed that Cabello was "amassing great power and control over the regime's apparatus as well as a private fortune, often through intimidation behind the scenes."

Nikolas Kozloff: Caracas Cables: "Loco Chávez Time," Chinese Ambassador in Venezuela & "Fascist Military Elements" Nikolas Kozloff 2011