Álvaro Pulido Vargas, a fugitive wanted in the United States for alleged money laundering and bribery tied to Venezuela, is taken into U.S. custody, according to multiple reports. The U.S. case concerns federal charges filed in Florida, though outlets note that the exact timing and location of his arrest are not clearly established.
Prosecutors say Pulido is linked to schemes involving alleged payments to Venezuelan officials in exchange for lucrative state contracts. CBS News and other coverage says he was indicted in Miami federal court in 2019 and again in 2021 as part of an investigation connected to his longtime business partner, Alex Saab, described as a one-time ally of ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The reporting also frames the matter within broader U.S. efforts to pursue financial crimes and alleged corruption related to Venezuelan government dealings.
