USA Stop Alvaro Pulido Vargas for Money Laundering

The Colombian Álvaro Pulido Vargas, 62, was placed in the custody of US authorities to respond to 13 money-laundering charges linked to the regime of Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S. announced his arrest on Sunday, October 11, and noted that his first appearance will be on Tuesday, October 13, before a federal court in the South District of Florida.

According to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Pulido Vargas faces two separate federal charges filed in July 2019 and October 2021, related to alleged multi-million-dollar money-laundering and Venezuelan bribery schemes.

Accusation of 2021 and CLAP programme

The 2021 charge includes five charges – money-laundering conspiracy and four money-laundering charges – and refers to contracts for approximately $1.6 billion from the CLAP programme to provide food and medicine. The prosecution claims that bribes were paid to Venezuelan officials, costs were inflated and some of the funds were transferred through accounts in Antigua, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. United States.

2019 indictment and link to Alex Saab

The 2019 charge, which also involves businessman Alex Saab, contains eight charges and is based on a contract for the construction of social-interest housing and false import documentation. According to the Office of the Prosecutor, the accused took advantage of the exchange rate system controlled by the Venezuelan Government to transfer about $350 million abroad through US banks.

Reactions by American authorities

Deputy Prosecutor A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice stated that “Álvaro Pulido Vargas is no longer a fugitive from justice.” DEA administrator Terrance Cole highlighted the international cooperation that allowed its capture.

Identity and criminal record

Pulido Vargas is also known as German Enrique Rubio Salas; under this identity he was convicted of drug trafficking in Italy in 1997.