Plus Ultra conversations place Delcy Rodriguez at the center of the operation: Have her call Abalos, or someone with Zapatero'

Plus Ultra executives began seeking political access for coronavirus-era aid in March 2020. A recorded conversation between Rodolfo Reyes and Julio Martinez Sola shows early advisory involvement connected to Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s former number two. The UDEF police report contains communications sent by the United States to Spanish authorities through police cooperation. The report details lines flagged by National Court judge Jose Luis Calama regarding an alleged influence-peddling network led by former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The alleged scheme is described as disguising illicit commissions through a corporate structure referred to as a financial boutique. The bailout of 53 million euros arrived in March 2021, and the file alleges the actions were guided by Rodriguez, now Venezuela’s president.

"It was in March 2020, with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, that Plus Ultra executives began considering the need to access the aid and, at the same time, to knock on the right doors at the political level to obtain it. A conversation between the airline's then owner and vice president, Rodolfo Reyes and Julio Martinez Sola, respectively, shows the involvement at least in an advisory capacity at an early stage of Delcy Rodriguez, who was formerly Venezuela's number two. Delcy, have her call Abalos, the first told the second. Or someone with Zapatero, added his vice president."

"This appears in a report by the Central Unit for Economic and Fiscal Crime (UDEF) that records communications sent by the United States to Spanish authorities as part of police cooperation between the two countries. This file, which EL PAIS has had access to, provides details of the main lines already flagged by National Court judge Jose Luis Calama regarding the alleged existence of an influence-peddling network led by former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero that would have disguised illicit commissions through a corporate structure members of the alleged scheme referred to as a financial boutique."

"In the indictment order made public this week, the investigating judge explained that Plus Ultra executives explored two routes to obtain the 53 million euro (61.5 million dollar) bailout that ultimately arrived in March 2021, a year after the alleged corrupt actions began. However, this police file reveals that those actions were allegedly guided by Rodriguez, the current president of Venezuela. Do you have any idea how we get to the political channels, aid issues, financing, etc.? Reyes asked Martinez So"

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