Chavez Policy Sends Venezuelans on Cross-Border Cash Hunt

"Chavez, who first imposed currency controls in 2003, shut down the unregulated market last year in an attempt to slow capital flight that reached $18.5 billion in 2010. Companies and investors that were unable to get dollars from the government at the official exchange rate used that market. Also known as the parallel market, it allowed brokerages to swap bonds for dollars."