Venezuelan authorities have captured Hugo Velez, the Colombian accused of financing the murder of the Venezuelan lawmaker Robert Serra last year. Velez is a close associate of former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe. He also runs a network of exchange houses on the border and is accused of involvement with paramilitary forces in the region. His arrest follows the extradition of Leiber Padilla Mendoza, one of the alleged masterminds of the murder. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a public statement that Hugo Velez was the person who delivered the money and oversaw the operation to kill Robert Serra. He has been tied to crimes against Venezuela that are being investigated.
