Alvaro Pulido Vargas taken into U.S. custody over alleged Venezuelan corruption schemes2026-10-12Alvaro Pulido Vargas, a Colombian national, was taken into U.S. custody and faces two federal cases alleging he laundered proceeds from bribery schemes tied to Venezuelan government programs.Prosecutors allege that Pulido and associates bribed officials to secure about $1.6 billion in food and medicine contracts through Venezuela’s CLAP program, then inflated prices to conceal the payments and enrich themselves.Prosecutors say about $180 million moved through or into the United States as part of the alleged schemes.A separate case alleges Pulido and an associate used a housing contract and false import documents to exploit Venezuela’s currency exchange system and move about $350 million out of the country.Pulido had been held in Venezuela since 2023; authorities have not disclosed how he was transferred into U.S. custody.Maduro-linked fugitive nabbed over alleged scheme to cash in on Venezuelans’ basic needs (The New York Post)Maduro-linked fugitive nabbed over alleged scheme to cash in on Venezuelans’ basic needs (Fox News)Fugitive businessman taken into U.S. custody in Venezuela bribery case (Los Angeles Times)Estados Unidos confirma la captura de Álvaro Pulido, empresario colombiano y socio de Alex Saab, por lavado de dinero (Infobae)Un fugitivo en casos de lavado de dinero en Venezuela comparecerá ante un tribunal de EE. UU. (Infobae)L'associé d'un proche de Maduro détenu aux États-Unis (Le Figaro)Maduro-linked Venezuelan businessman in US custody after years as fugitive (Geo News)Fugitive businessman Alvaro Pulido arrested in $2bn Venezuela corruption scandal (The News International)