The FBI captured a fugitive in Venezuela this past weekend who had been on the most wanted list for years.
Posted by VINCE, Checked
- Sources
- 6 support1 context
- Said
- 2 times·
- Confidence
- 60%
VINCESep 16, 2026
Multiple outlets reporting on FBI Director Kash Patel's Senate testimony in September 2026 say the FBI captured Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre in Venezuela over the weekend before the announcement, and that he had been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for years.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… In fact, Mr. Chairman, I'm proud to announce today and I hate to correct you we haven't captured nine of the top ten most individuals on our list. We've captured ten. Just this past weekend, we captured a thug down in Venezuela who was on our most wanted list and on the run for years. Folks, is it it is what you voted for, right? I would i would hope so. I would hope so. And that's under a president who takes your safety, public safety, as serious as a freaking stroke. …
The Dan Bongino Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Patel said at a Senate Judiciary hearing that 'this past weekend, we captured a thug down in Venezuela who was on our most wanted list and on the run for years,' matching the claim.[2][3]
Supports. Multiple outlets identify the captured man as Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, a Ten Most Wanted fugitive, citing an FBI confirmation and reporting that he was wanted for years.[4][5][6][7]
Context. The AP article about Alvaro Pulido, a businessman arrested in a DEA-led bribery case, concerns a different person and does not bear on this claim.[1]
Context. Reports differ on whether Patel spoke on Monday or Tuesday, and US authorities have not disclosed the circumstances of the capture; these are peripheral to the core claim.[2][3][6]
Sources
7 sources: 1 fact-checker, 6 not rated
- 1Fugitive businessman taken into US custody in Venezuela ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2FBI Director Patel announces capture of most-wanted fugitive ...see.mv · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 3FBI Director Patel announces capture of most-wanted fugitive in Venezuelaenglish.sun.mv · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 4A perfect ten: The FBI captures all of its most wanted fugitives and ...voz.us · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5www.latintimes.com › fbi-captures-engineer-venezuela-first-cybercriminal-addedFBI Captures "The Engineer" in Venezuela, First Cybercriminal...latintimes.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6efe.com › mundo › 2026/09/15Capturan en Venezuela al último prófugo de la lista de los diez...efe.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 7El FBI anunció que capturó en Venezuela al décimo fugitivo de la lista de más buscados del mundolanacion.com.ar · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 2 published posts
Related claims
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