SouthernWorldwide.com – Alex Saab, a 54-year-old Colombian businessman and a close confidant of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has reportedly been deported following his arrest in a joint U.S.-Venezuelan operation.
This development occurs less than three years after former President Joe Biden controversially pardoned and released Saab in a prisoner swap in 2023.
The high-profile arrest signifies a new level of cooperation between U.S. authorities and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
Following Maduro’s apprehension in a U.S. military raid in January, Rodríguez removed Saab from his cabinet position and his role as the primary channel for foreign investments. This information comes from a report by The Associated Press.
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Should Saab be returned to U.S. custody, he could emerge as a critical witness against Maduro. Maduro is currently awaiting trial on drug charges in Manhattan.
Previous court hearings indicated that Saab had engaged in secret meetings with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for years. These meetings reportedly aided the DEA in identifying corruption within Maduro’s inner circle.
U.S. officials have described Saab as Maduro’s “bag man.” He was previously detained in 2020 on bribery charges, with U.S. officials alleging he siphoned $350 million out of Venezuela, according to the AP.
While Biden’s 2023 pardon specifically addressed a 2019 indictment concerning unbuilt low-income housing, Saab still faces active federal investigations. These investigations pertain to alleged bribery conspiracies related to Venezuelan food import contracts.
The Venezuelan immigration authority confirmed that a “Colombian citizen” was being sent away due to U.S. criminal investigations. However, they withheld confirmation of his destination to circumvent Venezuelan laws that prohibit the extradition of its own nationals, as reported by the AP.
