Source: El Publique
Spain Initiates Extradition Process for Jesús Alfredo Vergara Betancourt, the Venezuelan Businessman Involved in Alleged Aluminum and Drug Trafficking, and Accused in the PDVSA-Crypto Scheme.
Jesús Alfredo Vergara Betancourt, a Colombian-born Venezuelan and director of Agencia Marina Desarrollos 1405 C.A., known as “the king of scrap” or “Lalo”, was arrested at Barajas Airport (Spain) due to an investigation by Europol. The Spanish government has begun the judicial process for his extradition to Venezuela, where he is wanted for his involvement in the PDVSA-Crypto case and other financial crimes.
A Dubious Business Involving Aluminum and Cryptocurrencies
Vergara Betancourt had dealings with Venezuelan government entities such as the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG), Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and the dismantled Superintendencia Nacional de Criptoactivos (Sunacrip). According to a note published in December 2011 by journalist Harrison Ashman, Vergara allegedly led a cartel called the “Narcos Alumineros” from the Orinoco Cartel, which used aluminum to launder money and disguise drugs. Ashman also accused him of owning a fleet of vessels for drug transportation and having bank accounts with over $200 million in tax havens.
In June 2020, Vergara was arrested by agents from the Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM) along with his associates Doménico Antonio Bruni Zerpa, Julio Cuesta Eisler, and Néstor Arias for their involvement in the PDVSA-Crypto case, a scheme that aimed to use cryptocurrencies to evade international sanctions against Nicolás Maduro’s government. The detainees were charged with aggravated fraud and conspiracy but were later released.
The Arrest in Spain and the Extradition Request
The 73rd Prosecutor’s Office of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas, responsible for crimes against Money Laundering, Financial and Economic Crimes, sent search requests for Vergara to Interpol and Europol, with the latter agency ultimately arresting him in Spain. Other names requested in this group include: Aleczander Añez, Andrés Hernández Vergara (Jesus Vergara’s nephew), Carlos Julio Vergara (father of Jesús Vergara), Jorge Añez, Jorge Dellan (cousin of the former president of the Industrial Bank of Venezuela), Jorge Infante Laya, Miguel Leonardo La Forgia Serrano, Pedro Ferrer, Richard Antoun, Roberto Añez, and Ronal Jesús López Hernández.
Vergara’s arrest in Spain was also due to a dormant investigation since 2012 regarding non-compliance in payments from his companies (Farmacia Lala and SMS Casting de Venezuela) to institutions with which he had financial relations, such as CVG and PDVSA. After his detention in Spanish territory, Vergara provided extensive testimony to Europol, with the presence of the CNI and Spanish National Police, about PDVSA-Crypto and mentioned various individuals involved.
The Spanish government received a circular from the United States requesting EU allies to monitor any payment transactions made by PDVSA or the Central Bank. To avoid being flagged as suspicious, transactions must be made directly to creditors and not through intermediaries.
The judicial process for Vergara’s extradition to Venezuela has commenced and is expected to be resolved in the coming months.
Tags: Cryptocurrencies, Jesús Alfredo Vergara Betancourt, drug trafficking, aluminum trafficking