A member of the special forces involved in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has been apprehended for allegedly profiting over US$400,000 (£296,980) by wagering on the leader’s removal from power. The United States Justice Department disclosed that Gannon Ken Van Dyke placed bets exceeding US$33,034 (£24,534) on the cryptocurrency-based gambling platform Polymarket, resulting in winnings totaling USD$409,000 (£303,686). These bets were made shortly before US president Donald Trump announced the operation that led to Maduro’s capture.
The wagers immediately sparked suspicion of insider trading, prompting a months-long investigation culminating in Van Dyke’s indictment on charges such as exploiting confidential information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government data, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and illicit monetary transactions. Following Trump’s announcement of “Operation Absolute Resolve,” unusual trading activities related to Maduro’s capture on Polymarket surfaced in the media and social platforms. In an attempt to conceal his involvement, Van Dyke requested the deletion of his Polymarket account and changed the associated email address to mask his identity as the trader behind the controversial Maduro bets.
A spokesperson from Polymarket confirmed that the company reported the suspicious bets to the Department of Justice and fully cooperated with the investigation. The spokesperson emphasized that insider trading is unacceptable on their platform, stating that the arrest of Van Dyke demonstrates the efficacy of their system. FBI Director Kash Patel underscored the significance of the indictment as a warning to individuals privy to sensitive information, asserting that anyone attempting to exploit such knowledge for personal gain will face consequences.
While Van Dyke’s arrest represents a precedent in the United States, it echoes a similar case globally, as seen in Israel where individuals faced charges for using classified information to place bets on Polymarket.
