US Confirms Participation in Zapatero and Plus Ultra Investigation. US intelligence services assisted Spanish police in the €53 million Plus Ultra case. At the center of the investigation are Zapatero and his associates. Authorities in Spain and the US coordinated their actions.
It has been confirmed in Madrid: the American Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was involved in the investigation that led to charges against former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. According to Reuters, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit provided the Spanish police with materials that formed the basis of the case concerning the allocation of 53 million euros to the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic.
The investigation, led by Judge José Luis Calama of the National Court, considers Zapatero the alleged organizer of a persistent scheme to influence the distribution of public funds. As part of the inquiry, searches were carried out at the former prime minister's office and at a marketing company linked to his daughters. Investigators believe the consulting firm Análisis Relevante issued fictitious services and documents to legitimize payments and secure access to state support through Zapatero's connections.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the American agency in Madrid cooperated with the Spanish police on a case of international embezzlement of public funds. This cooperation became a key element in the charges against Zapatero, which has caused a stir in Spanish politics and put pressure on current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Sánchez has publicly supported Zapatero and rejected the possibility of early elections.
The United States had previously shown interest in suspicious operations involving Plus Ultra and related entities. As noted by EL PAÍS, back in 2021 American authorities considered freezing the accounts of the Swiss bank MBaer due to suspicions of involvement in schemes with Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. Among the transactions were accounts of an investor linked to the investigation into Plus Ultra—the airline that received a large loan from the Spanish government.
The case materials devote special attention to Plus Ultra's ties with Venezuelan businessman Rodolfo Reyes, who until recently controlled a significant stake in the airline through Snip Aviation. According to the investigation, HSI provided Spanish police with data extracted from Reyes's mobile device. In his correspondence, Zapatero was repeatedly mentioned in the context of discussions about government subsidies for the airline.
The investigation also revealed that U.S. suspicions were linked to corruption schemes surrounding the state oil company PDVSA, which led to multimillion-dollar losses. A DHS representative declined to disclose details of the criminal case but emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating financial crimes.
In connection with this case, searches had previously been carried out in Madrid in the offices of Zapatero and companies associated with his family. Details of these actions and their significance for the investigation can be found in the article about the course of the searches and suspicions of fictitious services.
For reference: Plus Ultra is a Spanish airline that received government support during the pandemic. In recent years, it has drawn increased attention due to its ties with Venezuelan capital and suspicions of money laundering. The National Audience is Spain's highest court for corruption and financial crime cases. DHS and HSI are key American agencies tackling international crime and money laundering.
