‘His alleged actions show a blatant disregard to the Venezuelan people’: Businessman taken into U.S. custody after ‘corrupting’ government programs
Source: Fortune ·
Alvaro Pulido was indicted as part of an investigation into his business partner, Alex Saab, a one-time ally of ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
From the source
A businessman wanted for years in the U.S. for allegedly paying bribes to top Venezuelan officials in exchange for lucrative state contracts in Venezuela has been taken into custody. Alvaro 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 President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the State Department had been offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest. Pulido, 62, was taken into U.S. custody after an investigation led by the DEA, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agencies, American officials said Sunday. It’s unclear how Pulido ended up in U.S. custody. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Tuesday in Miami. “His alleged actions show a blatant disregard to the Venezuelan people by corrupting government programs intended to provide critical food, medicine, and housing for personal…