Venezuela deports businessman and Maduro ally to US
Photo: The arrest and deportation of Saab indicate a new level of cooperation between the US and Venezuela (Getty Images)
Venezuelan businessman and ally of former president Nicolás Maduro, Alex Saab, has been officially deported to the US, reports Reuters.
According to a law enforcement official, Saab was arrested in Caracas in February during a joint US-Venezuela operation. This happened one month after US special forces captured Maduro in Caracas.
Reuters notes that Saab’s arrest and deportation indicate a new level of cooperation between US and Venezuelan law enforcement agencies under acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
The agency also notes that the 54-year-old Saab, a native of Colombia, was previously detained in Cape Verde in 2020 and was held in custody in the US on bribery charges. In 2023, he was pardoned in exchange for the release of Americans detained in Venezuela.
According to sources, Saab may provide US authorities with information that would strengthen their criminal case against Maduro.
What else is known
For context, Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were brought to New York in January to face criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit drug terrorism. But they deny the charges.
Several years ago, Saab and his wife lived in Italy. Lawyer Luigi Giuliano, who represents him, said he is not handling Saab’s cases in the US and cannot confirm the deportation.
