[REVISION HISTORY]

Plus Ultra probe expands to money laundering and leaks

Updated 26 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-10 09:19 UTC → 2026-10-15 13:08 UTC · added ~~removed~~

~~Investigation~~ Plus Ultra probe expands to ~~include former PM~~ money laundering and ~~Venezuelan-lذ~~ leaks

The investigation into the €53 million state-backed rescue of Plus Ultra has expanded to examine potential irregularities involving former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Overseen by Judge José Luis Calama of the Audiencia Nacional, the probe is investigating a complex money laundering network allegedly used to conceal the theft of Venezuelan public resources. Recent developments focus on ~~the role of~~ businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, a ~~personal~~ friend of ~~Zapatero. It is alleged that Martínez Martínez~~ Zapatero, who allegedly facilitated ~~permissions from the~~ Venezuelan government permissions for Plus Ultra to operate repatriation flights during 2020 and ~~2021, despite the suspension of regular flights.~~ 2021. Documents from former CEO Roberto Roselli indicate the airline generated over €2 million in 20 days during the pandemic through such ~~charter and cargo~~ operations. Authorities are ~~also~~ now investigating ~~whether rescue funds masked the misappropriation of Venezuelan assets, including gold sales from~~ a suspected money laundering scheme involving transfers to opaque bank accounts in Gibraltar, Switzerland, Montenegro, the ~~Bank of Venezuela~~ United Kingdom, and ~~funds from the CLAP food program. Findings from~~ Mauritius. Investigators, supported by the ~~UK’s National~~ Economic and Fiscal Crime ~~Agency (NCA)~~ Unit (UDEF), suggest ~~British companies owned by financiers in~~ funds were channeled to Plus Ultra through sham investment or loan contracts. Dutch financier Simon Leendert Verhoeven, described as the ~~case received over €80 million from entities involved in moving Venezuelan gold, reportedly originating~~ alleged financial mastermind, was extradited to Spain from ~~the UAE-based Noor Capital PSC. This~~ Germany and is ~~linked~~ scheduled to ~~the alleged looting~~ testify following charges of ~~over one billion dollars from Venezuelan gold bullion sales. Key figures~~ misappropriation, influence peddling, and money laundering. Additionally, former airline director Rodolfo Reyes is under scrutiny ~~include Alex Saab, an alleged front man~~ for ~~Nicolás Maduro, and financier Simon Leendert~~ allegedly ordering immediate transfers to shell companies linked to Verhoeven. ~~Luis Felipe Baca Arbulu~~ Concurrently, a Madrid judge has ~~been detained in Aruba, while Verhoeven was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany.~~ ordered an investigation into the leaking of confidential information regarding the ‘Zapatero case’. Judge Margarita Valcarce is investigating the origin of leaked data, including Zapatero’s private agendas and personal conversations, which were deemed unrelated to the legal proceedings. Zapatero’s legal team has criticized the dissemination of this unredacted private information.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.