Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie, also known as Tony Gebran, is a Venezuelan trader of Arab descent, who allegedly sought political asylum in the United States years ago, claiming to be pursued by the Chavismo government. However, his past is rife with scandals and links to drug trafficking and corruption, which he attempts to hide behind a false image as a successful and honest businessman. It is difficult to consider someone a ‘victim’ when they flaunt connections with individuals tied to Chavismo.
Gebran Frangie does not hide his fascination with luxury cars, yacht outings, and private jet travel. He enjoys boasting about his godparent relationship with Venezuelan actress Roxana Diaz and her husband, actor Carlos Guillermo Haydon, who supported Maduro’s presidential candidacy in 2012 before being labeled a ‘traitor’ by other pro-Maduro artists in 2019. It is, in fact, the actress and godmother of Gebran who now serves as the face of Market Lub, Gebran Frangie’s new automotive lubricant store chain in Venezuela.
Carlos Guillermo Haydon, Roxana Diaz, and Neif Antonio Gebran
Roxana Diaz, Market Lub’s Image
Neif Gebran also enjoys showcasing an apparent closeness with Chavista communicator Pedro Carvajalino and Gustavo Gutiérrez, former mayor of the Naguanagua municipality in Carabobo state and secretary of Productive Economy and Tourism in the same region, a position held by Chavista governor Rafael Lacava.
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Pedro Carvajalino, Gustavo Gutiérrez, and Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie
Pedro Carvajalino and Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie
Prior to at least 2017, Neif Gebran Frangie lived in Miami after fleeing due to legal troubles in Venezuela. In that year – 2017 – he had a fleeting relationship in Coral Gables with the beautiful entrepreneur and fashion designer Yaneth López.
Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie and Yaneth López
Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie and Yaneth López
Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie
The Associate of “El Loco Barrera”
Gebran Frangie, also known as Tony Gebran, was one of the key collaborators of Colombian drug trafficker Daniel Barrera Barrera, alias “El Loco Barrera,” who was arrested in Venezuela in 2012 and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to sending tons of cocaine to North America and Europe. According to testimonies, Gebran Frangie provided Barrera with vehicles, properties, documents, and contacts for his movement and concealment in Venezuelan territory. He also participated in the laundering of assets stemming from drug trafficking through the creation of front companies.
Daniel Barrera Barrera, known as “El Loco Barrera”
In October 2012, Venezuelan authorities ordered the capture of Gebran Frangie for allegedly facilitating the escape of “El Loco Barrera’s” accomplices on a plane he owned. The trader fled to the United States and sought asylum in Miami, claiming to be a political refugee from the Chavista government, after a capture order was issued against him with an Interpol red alert. Years later, he managed to have this order lifted through lawyers and a checkbook willing to buy off consciences.
The Business Network
Gebran Frangie has been linked to several companies, both in Venezuela and in the United States, including ELF Corporation C.A., dedicated to the sale of luxury vehicles in Barquisimeto; Lubricantes de Venezuela C.A., which markets products for the automotive sector; and various companies registered in Florida. Among Gebran Frangie’s partners have been Rodolfo Raschid Velasco Kassem, Nicolás Aular Parra, and José Miguel Reyes Ortiz, who have criminal records or ties to the regime in Venezuela.
Neif Antonio Gebrán Frangie’s businesses expanded from Venezuela to Florida despite his past connections to drug trafficker Daniel “El Loco” Barrera
Noteworthy events in Gebran Frangie’s history include a raid on a property he owned in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where several luxury vehicles, high-caliber firearms, documents, and stamps from various state agencies were recovered; a maintenance invoice for one of the planes seized by the Venezuelan anti-drug office; and the testimony of a pilot who had previously flown for him, who was later detained and prosecuted in the United States.
Gebran Frangie has reportedly moved enormous amounts of money through various companies, banks, and holdings, and has been involved in fraudulent contracts with the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), leveraging his connections with the regime.
The False Image of a Successful and Honest Entrepreneur
Gebran has attempted to conceal his past by manipulating public opinion in Venezuela through press articles that falsely present him as a successful and honest businessman. One such article claims that his life philosophy has allowed him to carve his own path in the corporate world through many years of effort, faith, and the motivation and support of his family. It also states that his name is behind two businesses: Market Lub and TG Store, which distribute oils and lubricants for vehicles and design Venezuelan clothing and accessories, respectively. Additionally, it is claimed that his vision as an entrepreneur is to have recognized business lines for their excellence, innovation, and accessibility for all, and that he is deeply committed to social and environmental responsibility in the country. In November 2023, Market Lub opened its fifth store in Venezuela, this time in the Los Ruices neighborhood of Caracas. Market Lub, which sells lubricants wholesale and retail, has other branches in Caracas, specifically in Los Chaguaramos, Quinta Crespo, and Catia.
The reality is that Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie is an individual who has profited from drug trafficking and corruption and now seeks to deceive authorities and society with a false image of a successful and honest businessman. His political asylum request in the United States appears to be a ploy to temporarily evade Venezuelan justice.
Details about Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie’s Activities and Businesses
Authorities in Venezuela have cited Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie for his alleged involvement in various crimes related to drug trafficking and money laundering.
According to testimonies, Gebran Frangie allegedly facilitated the operations of Colombian drug trafficker Daniel Barrera Barrera, known as “El Loco Barrera,” in Venezuela. He is accused of providing vehicles, properties, documents, and contacts for movement and concealment. Furthermore, he is linked to laundering assets from drug trafficking through the creation of front companies.
Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie in Dubai
José Miguel Reyes is a shareholder of ELF Corporation C.A. and an operator in Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie’s Venezuelan and foreign companies.
According to the KP01-P-2012-20508 file from the Criminal Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela, more actions were accumulated against Gebran. There was already a detention order against him for allegedly facilitating the escape of “El Loco Barrera’s” accomplices in a plane he owned. During a raid of one of his properties in Barquisimeto, luxury vehicles, high-caliber firearms, documents, and stamps from various state agencies were discovered. He was also charged with possessing wealth disproportionate to his legal activities, as well as large sums of cash and properties.
Neif Antonio Gebran Frangie is listed as the owner of several companies in the state of Florida, including CINE CITTA SUPERMARKET LLC, ELF AUTOMOTIVE CORP, and EXOTICS COLLECTION MIAMI, LLC. Reports indicate that shortly after “El Loco Barrera’s” arrest in Venezuela, Gebran left for the United States and sought asylum in Miami, claiming to be a political refugee from the Venezuelan government.
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Miami prosecutors have investigated possible links between Gebran, former Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami, and businessman Samark López Bello. Gebran is suspected of having connections with these individuals in activities related to money laundering.
“El Loco Barrera” manufactured and transported large quantities of cocaine in Colombia for decades, laundering millions in profits in alliance with Colombian guerrillas. After his arrest in Venezuela, his empire began to crumble, and he is believed to have provided information to U.S. prosecutors.
Records in the state of Florida reveal that Gebran partnered with Venezuelan entrepreneurs and established several companies in various sectors. These firms may be linked to his alleged involvement in illicit activities and money laundering.
Miami prosecutors reportedly have evidence and testimonies indicating that Gebran may have moved large amounts of money through various companies, banks, and holdings. One key company is Yakima Oil Company, established in Panama and the UK, which was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2017.
DEA agents and Miami prosecutors have investigated Gebran’s possible ties and his participation in illicit activities related to drug trafficking and money laundering. Although no formal charges have been filed against him yet, public records and gathered evidence could lead to legal actions against him.
In response to accusations against him, Gebran has denied any links to Tareck El Aissami and “El Loco Barrera.” He has also denied owning aircraft and attributed the allegations to a campaign by his enemies.
The primary charge against him in Venezuela is facilitating the escape of a frontman for “El Loco Barrera” in an aircraft he owned. His partner Rodolfo Raschid Velasco Kassem is also involved in this case.
The Escape Plane
One of the key pieces of evidence against Gebran is his use of an aircraft he owned to facilitate the escape of Germán Arenas Rodríguez and his wife, also identified as frontmen for “El Loco Barrera.” According to the Venezuelan justice file, on October 9, 2012, Gebran and his partner, Rodolfo Raschid Velasco Kassem, lent a Gates Lear Jet model 25C, registration N611CH, so that they could escape from authorities seeking them for drug trafficking. The plane belonged to Gallery Aviation INC, based in Miami and represented by Venezuelan-American Nicolás Aular Parra, who in turn has business ties with Gebran’s wife and parents in Florida.
One of the planes used by Gebran
The Venezuelan anti-drug office seized that plane and another one that was in Gebran’s hangar at the main airport in Barquisimeto, northeastern Venezuela. The other aircraft was a Cessna 421C, registration N25MT, owned by Luxury Auto Sales USA INC, also registered in Miami and connected to Aular Parra and Velasco Kassem. Both aircraft were registered in the U.S. and were frequently used by Gebran and his family for travels between Venezuela and the U.S. Miami prosecutors are believed to be aware that these aircraft were used for transporting money and drugs in the service of “El Loco Barrera.”
In 2014, one of the pilots who had flown for Gebran was arrested and prosecuted in the U.S. for a drug trafficking case that implicated him. His statements could confirm the use and ownership of the planes by the businessman. Additionally, in 2015, Noble Jet, Inc., a Fort Lauderdale service company, presented an invoice for the maintenance of the Gates Lear Jet to Inverso Gebran C.A., a company registered in Venezuela under Gebran’s name. The cost was $61,605.34, which had not been paid.
Money Laundering
Another accusation against Gebran is that he may have laundered tens of millions of dollars from drug trafficking through various companies, banks, and holdings. One of the key companies is Yakima Oil Company, established in Panama and the UK, which was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2017 for being linked to Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami and his partner, Samark López.
According to testimonies from anonymous sources with access to the case, Gebran does not appear in the Yakima Oil Company records, but allegedly used other companies indirectly linked to López’s businesses, handling money in cash, much of which was transported in planes to Venezuela for his safekeeping. “Gebran would bring down the money from the United States on planes; that was one of his jobs,” one source stated.
In addition to Yakima Oil Company, Gebran partnered with Venezuelan entrepreneurs and established at least half a dozen companies in various sectors in Florida prior to his stay in Miami. Some of these firms, whether operational or not, are under his ownership or in partnerships with family and friends whose names appear in the open investigation in Venezuela. Among them is that of a partner identified as a frontman for “El Loco Barrera.”
Miami prosecutors likely have evidence and testimonies indicating that Gebran also engaged in luxury vehicle imports, which he facilitated for his contacts to launder money and obtain favors. During the inspection by Venezuelan authorities of his hangar, vehicles from brands such as Mercedes Benz, Hummer, Porsche, Jeep, Camaro, and BMW were confiscated, which he could not declare legally. Also found were materials to falsify official documents and high-caliber firearms, including stamps from a dozen state agencies and letterheads from various Venezuelan consulates in the U.S., including Miami.
The Defense and the Escape
After the accusations against him, Gebran launched a defense, supposedly self-funded, to clear his name. He alleged that he was accused without concrete evidence and that he was a victim of political persecution by Chavismo. In recent years, he has filed legal remedies, granted interviews, and published press articles aimed at portraying him as a successful and innocent businessman. However, Venezuelan authorities requested the issuance of an Interpol Red Circular to order his arrest after he fled to the United States.
Velasco Kassem, his partner, was detained by Venezuelan police and was placed in custody in January 2013. After spending nearly four years in prison, he received parole after a public trial. By then, Gebran was already in Miami, where he currently resides. Public records show that there is still no formal case opened against him in the U.S., but prosecutors could take action using their authority based on the serious allegations and evidence implicating him in drug trafficking.
Gebran has denied the allegations against him and attributed them to a campaign by his enemies. However, the businessman has declined to respond to questions from journalists to elaborate on certain topics.