Overview

• Following the Supreme Court’s authorization, the presidency ordered administrative and diplomatic steps for Machado’s handover to the United States, with the businessman moved from house arrest to federal custody and his Viedma home raided by federal police on Wednesday.
• Machado is sought by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on charges including narcotics trafficking, money laundering, wire fraud and aircraft‑registration violations.
• Federal prosecutor Fernando Domínguez formally imputed Deputy José Luis Espert for alleged money laundering tied to a reported $200,000 transfer in 2020, citing evidence that includes a Bank of America record and a signed consultancy contract with Minas del Pueblo; Espert has resigned his candidacy.
• In media interviews, Machado acknowledged providing funds and logistical support such as private flights to Espert’s 2019 campaign and described a consultancy arrangement, though his accounts of amounts and timing have conflicted across appearances.
• Two confidential Ministry of Security reports prepared with U.S. Homeland Security detailed Machado’s aviation links to multi‑ton cocaine flights between 2018 and 2020 and noted financial and transport support associated with Espert’s campaign.