MADRID, Spain — Spanish National Police have documented financial transactions totaling approximately €4 million attributed to former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his daughters in connection with the judicial investigation into the Plus Ultra airline rescue, according to a police intelligence report obtained by verified media sources.
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The report, prepared by the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police, indicates that Mr. Zapatero invoiced €1,569,502 to companies outside the core corporate network under investigation in the Plus Ultra case. According to the document, these payments were reportedly made in exchange for services described as “international conferences, mediation work, strategic consulting, and activities involving analysis, reflection, and teaching in geopolitical, institutional, and academic spheres.”
When combined with additional payments characterized by investigators as alleged commissions or irregular benefits, the total amount attributed to Mr. Zapatero and his daughters reaches approximately €4,079,799. The UDEF report includes a graphical representation of payments made to the former prime minister by the corporate network associated with Julio Martínez Martínez, described in investigative documents as a business associate and personal friend of Mr. Zapatero who allegedly managed the structure through which purported irregular payments were channeled.
Central to the investigative focus are payments allegedly made by Plus Ultra airlines in connection with the €53 million rescue package granted in March 2021, with authorities examining whether Mr. Zapatero exercised influence to facilitate the state-backed support. According to the police unit, Mr. Zapatero and his daughters’ company were identified as “final beneficiaries of funds obtained by the network.”
One company highlighted in the report is Análisis Relevante, owned by Julio Martínez Martínez, which reportedly paid €490,780 to the former socialist leader, ostensibly for consulting services, though UDEF investigators characterize these transfers as alleged irregular commissions. The same company reportedly paid €239,755 to Whathefav SL, a marketing agency associated with Mr. Zapatero’s daughters. This agency reportedly received an additional €561,440 from Inteligencia Prospectiva SL, another entity described in investigative documents as potentially linked to Martínez Martínez’s corporate structure.
Further transactions documented in the report include payments from Inteligencia Prospectiva exceeding €266,000 to a company named Gate Center (also referenced as The Global Analysis and Trends in Emerging Regions), owned by an entrepreneur identified as Daniel Romero-Abreu Kaup. This economist appears in UDEF documentation in connection with two consulting firms, Gate Center and Thinking Heads, both reportedly sharing registered offices in the Onyx Tower in Florida. Both entities are listed as having made payments to Mr. Zapatero and his daughters’ company.
According to the report, Gate Center transferred €352,980 to Mr. Zapatero and an additional €171,727 to Whathefav SL. Thinking Heads reportedly made two payments to the former prime minister totaling €681,318, along with a separate transfer of €12,297 to his daughters’ marketing agency.
Beyond the transactions characterized by UDEF as potentially linked to an alleged influence-peddling network, the police report documents additional payments to Mr. Zapatero’s bank accounts from other sources. Notable among these are 55 transfers from the Swedish-origin consulting firm Kreab Iberia SL, totaling €851,180. The report also references three transfers from Focus Social Research SAC, a company based in Lima, Peru, reportedly engaged in “business consulting activities,” amounting to €200,000.
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Additional payments documented in the investigative file include transfers from Asian-based companies, specifically Chinalink Asia Holdings Limited, registered in Shanghai, and Mimo Advisors, which reportedly paid €104,410 to the former prime minister. Mimo Advisors is described as part of Acento Public Affairs, a firm associated with former socialist minister José Blanco, and reportedly represents the China-based operations of that consulting entity.
Other documented transfers to Mr. Zapatero include €105,000 from Kreab Worldwide, €53,000 from Bright Digital Solutions SL, €49,758.34 from Yuewee International Trade Limited, and €47,120.27 from the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
The Plus Ultra investigation originated from a complaint filed by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in 2024, following alerts from financial intelligence units in Switzerland and France. The inquiry examines whether public funds allocated for the airline’s rescue were used appropriately or diverted to repay loans to other Venezuelan companies not directly connected to the recovery operation.
Under Spanish criminal procedure, individuals under investigation retain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings. Mr. Zapatero has previously stated that his professional activities were conducted legitimately and that payments received were for authorized consulting services unrelated to any improper influence regarding the Plus Ultra rescue.
The National Court, which has jurisdiction over the case due to charges including alleged criminal organization and influence peddling, will evaluate all evidence presented by investigators, including financial records, communications, witness testimony, and forensic analysis, before determining whether to advance formal charges or modify the procedural status of those under investigation.
Legal analysts note that cases involving former high-ranking officials require careful adherence to procedural safeguards while ensuring thorough examination of allegations that may implicate public trust and institutional integrity. Spanish judicial protocols provide mechanisms for appeals, evidentiary challenges, and defense representation throughout all stages of investigation and potential prosecution.
As judicial proceedings continue, authorities have indicated that further details will be released through official channels in accordance with applicable legal protocols and privacy considerations. Further updates regarding investigative developments, judicial determinations, or related policy considerations are expected as the National Court and relevant agencies provide additional information through verified sources.
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Note: This report is based on police documentation, judicial sources, and verified media accounts. Legal proceedings remain subject to Spanish judicial protocols and the presumption of innocence. All individuals mentioned in connection with potential criminal activity are presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings. Details regarding the ongoing investigation remain subject to judicial secrecy and privacy protections.
Reporting from Madrid. Additional contributions from judicial affairs correspondents and anti-corruption policy analysts.
