Alvaro Pulido, a businessman who had been a fugitive from U.S. authorities for years, was taken into custody around October 11, 2026, on charges that he paid bribes to senior Venezuelan officials to secure state contracts.
The Guardian reported that Pulido was first indicted in Miami federal court in 2019, with a second indictment following in 2021. Both indictments grew out of an investigation into Alex Saab, Pulido's longtime business partner and a one-time ally of Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the State Department had each offered rewards for information leading to Pulido's arrest. Combined, the two agencies made available up to $10 million for tips that resulted in his capture, The Guardian said.
ABC News also confirmed Pulido's arrest, reporting that he had been sought by U.S. authorities and that the alleged payments were made in exchange for lucrative Venezuelan government contracts.