Crime & Justice
US detains Álvaro Pulido, businessman wanted in $2bn Venezuelan bribery scheme
October 12, 2026 at 02:31 PM
US authorities have detained Colombian businessman Álvaro Pulido, wanted for his alleged role in laundering more than $2 billion from Venezuelan government bribery schemes.
- Pulido, 62, was taken into custody Sunday in an operation led by the DEA, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
- Indicted in 2019 and 2021, he faces two federal cases over laundering profits from bribes paid for Venezuelan food and medicine contracts.
- Prosecutors allege Pulido worked with Alex Saab, who pleaded guilty in September and agreed to cooperate and forfeit $195 million.
- Pulido is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in a Miami federal court on Tuesday.