May.26, 2010, 8:52 A.M. ET, Source: DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

CARACAS (Dow Jones)--Venezuela is asking the U.S. for the rap sheets on 14 Venezuelans it says were detained in the U.S. for alleged money laundering schemes involving Venezuela's unregulated and recently shuttered currency market.

U.S. officials at the embassy in Caracas weren't immediately available for comment on the request for the criminal records. Venezuela, in a statement Tuesday that detailed the request, said it delivered the petition for assistance to the U.S. State Department in Washington.

Venezuela and the U.S. have strong trade relations, as the oil-rich South American nation is one of the U.S.'s top suppliers of crude oil. But political relations between the two are bad, with President Hugo Chavez, a socialist, constantly slamming the U.S. for its capitalist and "imperialist" ways.

The Venezuela government's statement said the government wants "legal cooperation" on the money laundering case to complement its own criminal investigations into "illicit acts" committed in Venezuela's unregulated currency market.

The unregulated, free-floating currency market handles about half of all foreign exchange trades in Venezuela. But it was ordered closed by authorities last week amid fears that the bolivar currency, which had plunged 25% this year to VEF8 for $1, was heading for a free fall.

The sharp decline of the bolivar in the unofficial market left a huge gap between it and the official, fixed rate of VEF4.3 for $1, causing distortions in the economy, including a 30% annual inflation rate that's among the highest in the world.

Chavez says "speculators" in the market were manipulating it to bring the bolivar crashing down. So, in addition to shutting down the currency market, his government has been raiding Venezuelan brokerage houses this month and has made numerous arrests. The currency market is due to re-open next week, under the strict control of the Central Bank.

Chavez says those allegedly manipulating the market in Caracas have international links, which is apparently why his government sent the letter to the U.S. asking for assistance. Venezuelan officials weren't available to confirm that.

The Venezuelan statement provided the names of 12 people it says are Venezuelans and were arrested in the U.S. for alleged money laundering. It specifically requested that the U.S. hand over each individual's criminal file.

The Venezuela statement also lists the names of three individuals whose nationalities are unknown, and says it wants their rap sheets as well.

Chavez critics say the bolivar's fall is not related to any market manipulation, but rather is related to his socialist policies, which they say are leading to a scarcity of products that's fueling inflation.