The Uruguayan's arrest by the FBI occurred during a stopover in the United States on a deportation flight departing from the Dominican Republic. Sources familiar with the case indicate that the arrest stems from an investigation into alleged money laundering linked to associates of the sons of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
According to information released by international media and documents accessed by judicial authorities, the Uruguayan citizen allegedly opened bank accounts in the United States for third parties identified as Maduro's relatives and associates. These accounts recorded transactions that the investigation describes as transfers originating in Venezuela, sent by companies and individuals.
According to the file, the surveillance began in 2019. One of the episodes under analysis corresponds to 2022, when the acceptance of a transfer of USD 100,000 designated as sanctions funds was documented. In another tranche, US authorities estimate that at least USD 25,000 was entered into their financial system as part of maneuvers attributed to an international money laundering network. These amounts, although partial, are part of a larger set of transactions under review.
The arrest occurred under an outstanding court order. The stopover facilitated the intervention of federal agents at the airport and the immediate transfer to the appropriate authorities for arraignment. At the same time, requests for banking and corporate information to consolidate the associated financial evidence.
Arrest of Uruguayan by the FBI: Investigation, Financial Evidence, and Legal Framework
The investigation focuses on three axes: account opening and use, beneficial ownership, and the funds' compatibility with sanctions regimes. To this end, bank KYC records, suspicious transaction reports, correspondence between account holders and agents, and digital traces of transfers are cross-referenced. The objective is to determine whether there was a stable channeling of capital to or from the United States , bypassing controls.
Prosecutors are working with international cooperation to identify corporate structures, transactions in multiple jurisdictions, and the potential involvement of intermediaries. At this stage, charges are filed under the presumption of innocence, while accounting audits and requests to financial institutions are ordered. The defense may present documentation proving the legitimate origin, purpose of the transactions, or typographical errors.
Regarding public communications, US spokespersons emphasized that such maneuvers serve as "financial support" for evasive networks and reiterated that their system will not operate as a safe haven for capital affected by sanctions. No details of future hearings or procedural schedules, which are standard in cases involving transnational cooperation, were released so far.
Regional scope, cooperation and next procedural steps
The arrest of the Uruguayan by the FBI is part of a trend of inter-agency coordination to track assets, identify beneficial owners, and block flows through offshore structures or bridge accounts. The expected steps include forensic analysis of devices, expanded requests to correspondent banks, and taking statements from key witnesses. If the cross-references confirm matches between transfers, companies, and final recipients, new precautionary measures could be requested on assets and accounts .
On the Uruguayan side, these cases often result in information exchanges through official channels, with an impact on potential mirror investigations if local links are detected. Coordination includes due diligence standards, anti-money laundering protocols, and respect for procedural safeguards. On a practical level, factors such as response times from foreign banks and confidentiality requirements also play a role.
For the reader, context helps to understand the story: the operation described in the files is not limited to a single transaction. It requires authorized accounts, formal documentation, correspondence of supporting documents, and sometimes, fronting through companies. The financial system uses automatic alerts, but background investigations cross-reference disparate pieces to reconstruct the money's path.
Pending decisions are the following: final legal qualification, the detainee's specific participation, the validity of seizure or confiscation orders, and possible collaboration agreements. Meanwhile, the case will continue with accounting reviews, requests from data providers, and additional evidence.
U.S. Department of Justice – Official Information and Releases → https://www.justice.gov/
