Police arrest financial mastermind of 'Plus Ultra case' in Germany

The German police have arrested **Simon Leendert Verhoeven**, a Dutch financier considered the brain behind the laundering of illicit Venezuelan funds within the framework of the 'Plus Ultra case'.

The German police have apprehended Dutch financier **Simon Leendert Verhoeven** in **Germany**, who is considered the key figure in laundering illicit funds from Venezuela in the so-called **Plus Ultra case**. German authorities have informed the National Court and stated they will proceed with his extradition on a flight from **Frankfurt** arriving in **Madrid** around **15:00 hours**. This banker, accused of structuring loans with the investigated airline, had been wanted internationally since the case broke one year ago.

## The Origin of the Funds
Verhoeven's role lies at the genesis of the case. According to the Prosecutor's Office, he granted over **one million euros** through an 'offshore' corporate structure to **Plus Ultra**, funds originating from the commission of crimes in the Caribbean country. The airline turned to this financier during the pandemic, before securing the rescue of **53 million euros** from the Government.

## The Airline's Defence
**Plus Ultra** has maintained that its defence was necessary because it had to seek these funds after failing to obtain bank financing. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy and disappearance, which forced it to look for financial alternatives during a critical moment.