Venezuela has extradited Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, an alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal network and the FBI's first-ever cyber fugitive on its Ten Most Wanted list, to the United States. Canelón Aguirre appeared in a Nebraska federal court on October 2, 2026, pleading not guilty to charges including bank fraud and providing material support to terrorists. The extradition signals deepening law-enforcement cooperation between Caracas and the Trump administration.
Extradition and court appearance
- ▪Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre appeared in a Nebraska federal court on October 2, 2026, following his extradition from Venezuela.
- ▪Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, a 50-year-old Venezuelan national, was captured in Venezuela last month and extradited to the United States.
- ▪The extradition of Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre indicates deepening law-enforcement cooperation between the Venezuelan government in Caracas and the Trump administration.
- ▪Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre pleaded not guilty to four federal conspiracy charges in Nebraska on October 2, 2026, and will remain detained while awaiting trial.
Charges and allegations of ATM jackpotting
- ▪The federal conspiracy charges against Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre include bank fraud, bank burglary and computer fraud, money laundering, and providing material support to terrorists.
- ▪An ATM jackpotting attack is a cyberattack where criminals exploit vulnerabilities in ATMs, including using malware, to force the machines to dispense cash.
- ▪Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre is accused of developing malicious software and leading an international ATM jackpotting conspiracy to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions.
- ▪The bank fraud conspiracy charge against Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
FBI Ten Most Wanted status
- ▪FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the capture of Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre is the 10th Ten Most Wanted fugitive capture since the beginning of the Trump administration.
- ▪Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre was the first-ever cyber fugitive placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
Official reactions to the capture
- ▪U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche credited the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Vulcan for the capture and arrest of Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre.
- ▪Following the apprehension of Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, FBI Director Kash Patel told lawmakers that the FBI had captured one of the nation's top fugitives.
Alleged ties to Tren de Aragua
- ▪The United States has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, and the Department of Justice has charged nearly 350 alleged members and associates.
- ▪The ATM jackpotting conspiracy led by Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre allegedly supported the Tren de Aragua criminal organization since at least 2024.
Debatable claims
- ▪Charging cybercriminals who fund transnational gangs with material support for terrorism is justified
- ▪The US should cooperate with Venezuela's government to extradite transnational criminals
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