Fugitive businessman Alvaro Pulido taken into US custody

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 19:19 · Archive

Alvaro Pulido, wanted for allegedly bribing Venezuelan officials, has been taken into US custody.

Alvaro Pulido, a Colombian-born businessman wanted for years in the US for allegedly paying bribes to top Venezuelan officials in exchange for lucrative state contracts, has been taken into US custody. He was indicted in Miami federal court in 2019 and again in 2021 as part of an investigation into his longtime business partner Alex Saab, a one-time ally of ousted President Nicolás Maduro. The US Drug Enforcement Administration and State Department had been offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest.

Pulido was taken into US custody after an investigation led by the DEA, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agencies, according to Nicole Navas Oxman, a Homeland Security Task Force spokesperson. She said he will make his initial court appearance on Tuesday in Miami but did not disclose how he ended up in US custody.

Prosecutors allege that Pulido, together with Saab, created a network of offshore shell companies to funnel bribes to top Maduro allies in exchange for contracts to import food, medicine and low-cost housing during a period of widespread hardship in Venezuela. Pulido was arrested in Venezuela in 2023 as part of a crackdown on corruption inside state-run oil company PDVSA that was led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez while she was serving as Maduro's vice president.

How it is being reported

• Fugitive businessman taken into US custody in Venezuela bribery caseA businessman wanted in the U.S. for allegedly bribing top Venezuelan officials has been taken into custody.Clickorlando · 11 Oct, 17:02
• Fugitive businessman taken into US custody in Venezuela bribery caseA businessman wanted in the U.S. for allegedly bribing top Venezuelan officials has been taken into custody.News4Jax · 11 Oct, 17:02

In this story: Alvaro Pulido · Alex Saab · Nicolás Maduro · Delcy Rodríguez · Venezuela · Miami · DEA · FBI

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