Fugitive businessman taken into US custody in Venezuela bribery case

A Venezuelan businessman suspected of bribing top officials for lucrative state contracts is in U.S. custody, U.S. authorities announced on Sunday. Alvaro Pulido, indicted in 2019 and 2021, was taken into custody by the DEA, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations after a DEA-led investigation. Pulido will make his initial court appearance in Miami on Tuesday.

The alleged actions demonstrate a disregard for the well-being of the Venezuelan people, Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote. No response has been received from Venezuelan authorities. Pulido was arrested in Venezuela in 2023 as part of a corruption crackdown led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took over following the U.S. military's ouster of Maduro in January.

Pulido and his longtime business partner, Alex Saab, allegedly created a network of offshore shell companies to funnel bribes in exchange for contracts to import essential goods during a period of hardship in Venezuela. Saab, who also is Colombian, pleaded guilty in May and agreed to cooperate against Maduro and others.