Álvaro Pulido, partner of Alex Saab, extradited to US for money laundering
Álvaro Pulido was arrested on Sunday, 11 October and transferred to the US, where he faces two federal charges for corruption linked to the Maduro government.
Partner of Alex Saab detained by US agents and transferred to Florida
Businessman Álvaro Pulido was extradited to the United States on Sunday, 11 October from Venezuela, as confirmed by US Attorney General Todd Blanche through his X account, reports elestimulo.com.
Blanche indicated that Pulido was arrested by the National Security Task Force. He now faces two separate federal charges—from 2019 and 2021—for "alleged schemes involving money laundering of Venezuelan funds and bribes worth billions of dollars linked to the Maduro government".
"His alleged actions demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the Venezuelan people by corrupting government programmes designed to provide critical food, medicine and housing, for personal enrichment, and exploiting the US financial system to do so," Blanche said.
Pulido had been imprisoned in Venezuela since 2023, accused of participating in the embezzlement of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). He will be transferred to a federal court in south Florida, where his first appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October.
The Washington government did not explain the details of how the transfer was carried out, and the Venezuelan government did not issue any official announcement regarding it.
"No amount of time or distance will stop the Department of Justice from working with our federal law enforcement forces and international partners to pursue these criminals and bring them to justice in a US courtroom," Blanche added.
Pulido, Colombian national, was linked to corrupt schemes related to prefabricated housing from the social programme and Clap food boxes. The US government was offering a reward of 10 million dollars for information leading to his capture, although it has not been confirmed whether anyone will receive that payment.
National Security Department spokesperson Nicole Navas Oxman noted that the operation was the result of joint work between the DEA, the FBI and the National Security Investigations unit.
Pulido shares Colombian nationality with Alex Saab, his partner, who was extradited to the United States in May of this year.
Source: Google News VE — Crime