A Venezuelan businessman wanted in the US for allegedly bribing officials has been arrested. Alvaro Pulido was indicted in 2019 and 2021 for allegedly paying bribes to secure state contracts.
Alvaro Pulido, 62, was taken into US custody following an investigation by the DEA, FBI, and HSI. He is scheduled to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday. The US attorney general described his actions as corrupting government programs for personal gain. Pulido 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 Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the state department had been offering a reward of up to $10m for information leading to his arrest.
Venezuelan authorities have not commented on the arrest. Pulido was previously arrested in Venezuela in 2023 as part of a corruption crackdown. Prosecutors allege he and his business partner created offshore companies to funnel bribes worth over $2bn. Prior to these alleged offenses, Pulido had a prolific history of drug trafficking, including a 1997 conviction in Italy under the alias of German Enrique Rubio. Saab, who also hails from Colombia, was deported to the US by Venezuelan authorities in May and pleaded guilty in a related bribery case in September.
Why it matters
His arrest may complicate ongoing US-Venezuela legal and diplomatic interactions.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch whether Alex Saab's legal status in Venezuela changes in response to Pulido's arrest.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.