US Embassy Staff Assisted Police in Zapatero 'Blank' Case. US Embassy staff have become involved in the investigation into possible money laundering involving Zapatero. The American side has provided key materials. This has heightened the international profile of the case.
The investigation into the alleged laundering of international state funds, involving former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has acquired a new international dimension. It has emerged that staff from the U.S. Embassy in Madrid assisted the Spanish police by providing technical support and materials that proved crucial to the investigation.
According to court documents, the American agency HSI, operating out of the U.S. Embassy, handed over to the Spanish Anti-Money Laundering Brigade data from the mobile phone of Rodolfo Reyes Rojas—a Venezuelan partner of Plus Ultra. This information, including messaging and emails, allowed investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events and clarify details of the case.
Despite political differences between the U.S. and Spanish administrations, law enforcement cooperation continues, especially in investigations linked to Venezuela, Russia, Iran, or large dollar transactions. A spokesperson for the U.S. agency confirmed that HSI Madrid supports joint efforts with Spanish colleagues to combat international crime and protect the rule of law.
HSI Madrid refers to the staff of the US Embassy responsible for liaising with Spanish authorities on matters of homeland security. By standard procedure, requests from the Spanish police are transmitted via homeland security advisors and then forwarded to Washington. Similar mechanisms operate in other European countries, including France and Switzerland.
The geopolitical aspect of the case is linked to the fact that Washington has been closely monitoring any financial structures associated with the Venezuelan regime for several years. Recently, US authorities recommended blocking the accounts of the Swiss bank MBaer due to suspicions of involvement in money-laundering operations connected to PDVSA and figures close to Nicolás Maduro, such as Alex Saab.
Zapatero's ties with Venezuela and his role as a mediator in Caracas have made him a figure of concern for both the Venezuelan opposition and US authorities. In 2025, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau publicly announced the intention to revoke Zapatero’s visa, commenting on reports of his possible involvement in negotiations around the transition of power in Venezuela.
A few months after these statements, significant political changes occurred in Venezuela, although Zapatero's direct involvement in these events has not been confirmed. Nevertheless, American agencies continue to monitor his activities, especially in light of Alex Saab's transfer into US custody. This may mean that new details about the case could emerge in the future.
The court records mention only one official request for assistance, but it is possible that there were more such appeals. The situation for the US Embassy in Madrid is further complicated by the fact that the new ambassador is originally from Cuba, while relations with Spain's socialist government remain tense. At the same time, a possible arrest of Zapatero could impact bilateral relations with Venezuela, given his previous role as a mediator in matters concerning political prisoners.
The involvement of American agencies in the investigation gives the case extra weight and raises it to the level of international efforts against money laundering. Data obtained from Rodolfo Reyes Rojas's phone played a significant role, yet many details in the case remain unresolved. Former head of military intelligence Hugo Carvajal previously drew attention to Zapatero's ties with the Venezuelan regime; he was extradited to the US and repeatedly promised to provide evidence, but some of his claims were later refuted or withdrawn.
The context of the Plus Ultra case and financial flows linked to Zapatero's circle have already been the subject of a separate investigation. In particular, the court identified substantial transfers from a Madrid-based company to the former prime minister's daughters, which were examined in detail in the piece about suspicious transfers to Zapatero's family.
For reference: HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for investigating transnational crime. FinCEN is the U.S. financial regulatory body in charge of monitoring suspicious transactions. Plus Ultra is a Spanish airline involved in a number of high-profile cases related to government support and ties to Venezuela. In recent years, Spain and the United States have increased information sharing on cases involving international financial flows and potential money laundering.
