Now the “well-connected” in Venezuela can dress in Prada. On Friday, November 18, a new store will open its doors in the Las Mercedes area of Caracas, which is set to become the favorite shopping spot for the boliburguesa elite: “Galerías Avanti.” This space will showcase the most exclusive global brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Dolce&Gabbana.
The mind behind this “business venture” is Yaser Dagga, associated with Frigilux and Cyberlux, who is part of a group some refer to as the “money laundering talibans.”
The store’s image is represented by Dora D’Agostino, wife of Venezuelan host Eladio Lares and sister of Diana D’Agostino, who is the spouse of opposition politician Henry Ramos Allup.
Dakazo
In the appliance business in Venezuela, a familiar surname often arises: Dagga. This Palestinian-origin business group has seen explosive growth during the oil boom and the currency control measures implemented by Chavismo over the past decade. Even the event known as Dakazo hasn’t halted their expansion. Yes, Dagga is the name behind the Daka store chain, which is well known in Venezuela not just for its advertising efforts but also due to President Nicolás Maduro’s decree in 2013 to empty the stores. At that time, the national leader accused Daka of usury and speculation. This order for occupation and confiscation devastated the availability of home appliances in the country within a few weeks and possibly influenced municipal election results a month later. Interestingly, this action didn’t affect the Dagga family adversely. Today, their empire includes Daka alongside other enterprises.
Nasar Ramadan Dagga Mujamad and Manzur Ramadan Dagga Mujamad are linked to the origins of Daka de Venezuela C.A. The former is also associated with Consorcio Lux and the CLX stores, which emerged in 2013 with an “exclusive license” for the “representation and distribution” of the South Korean brand Samsung. The latter is linked to Bullpro Maracay C.A, established in 2016 and dedicated to marketing American Boss sound equipment. There’s more: Yaser Arafat Dagga Muhd, a co-founder of the CLX stores, is the sole owner of Cyberlux de Venezuela C.A, which advertises itself as the “largest appliance assembler in Venezuela” and was once tied to Daka de Venezuela C.A. Similar connections between the origin of Daka’s business and other companies are found in various corporations registered by the Dagga family and associates in Panama.
Despite this, those close to the group insist that “the only link is familial” and that this information is very sensitive. One thing is clear: the businesses are thriving, including Daka, within what seems to be a little-known network.