Alvaro Pulido arrested in US custody ahead of Miami court date
Fugitive businessman Alvaro Pulido is in U.S. custody ahead of a federal court appearance in Miami on foreign bribery charges, officials confirmed.
Alvaro Pulido was taken into custody ahead of a federal court appearance in Miami. The fugitive businessman faces longstanding criminal charges over an alleged foreign bribery scheme.
Officials did not explain how Pulido entered American custody. Nicole Navas Oxman, a Homeland Security Task Force spokesperson, confirmed the arrest on Sunday.
Federal agents from several departments led the investigation. These agencies include the DEA, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
The Colombian-born businessman was indicted in Miami federal court in 2019. Prosecutors filed another indictment against him in 2021.
The cases involve his longtime business associate, Alex Saab. Saab was an ally of ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
The U.S. government sought Pulido for years. Federal agencies offered rewards up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest.
He faces allegations of bribing officials in Venezuela for state contracts. Prosecutors say the network used offshore shell companies for these transactions.
The contracts involved importing food, medicine and housing. These deals took place during extreme hardship across Venezuela.
Pulido was previously arrested in Venezuela in 2023. That arrest occurred during a graft crackdown at state oil company PDVSA.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez led that probe as vice president. She assumed power following the U.S. military ouster of Maduro in January.
Rodríguez deported Saab to the United States in May. Saab pleaded guilty in a related case last month.
He agreed to cooperate against Maduro and other individuals. Saab also forfeited $195 million in criminal proceeds.
Venezuelan leaders have remained silent about the latest arrest. Some coalition members urge resistance against American custody operations targeting wanted political insiders.
Initial court appearances formally present defendants with their charges. Federal magistrate judges review rights and detention matters during these hearings.
Pulido will make his initial court appearance Tuesday in Miami.
