Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Joint U.S.-Venezuelan Operation

Alex Saab, a 54-year-old Colombian businessman and close ally of captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was deported after his February arrest in a joint U.S.-Venezuelan operation.

The arrest comes less than three years after former President Joe Biden pardoned and released Saab in a 2023 prisoner swap.

Following Maduro’s capture in a January U.S. military raid, interim President Delcy Rodríguez stripped Saab of his cabinet position and his role as the main conduit for foreign investments, according to The Associated Press.

If returned to U.S. custody, Saab could become a key witness against Maduro, who is awaiting trial on drug charges in Manhattan.

Court hearings previously showed that Saab held secret meetings with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for years, helping identify corruption within Maduro’s camp.

U.S. officials have described Saab as Maduro’s “bag man.” He was detained in 2020 on bribery charges, with officials alleging he siphoned $350 million out of Venezuela.

Biden’s 2023 pardon covered a specific 2019 indictment over unbuilt low-income housing. Saab still faces active federal investigations over alleged bribery conspiracies involving Venezuelan food import contracts.

The Venezuelan immigration authority confirmed a Colombian citizen was being sent away due to U.S. criminal investigations but did not confirm his destination, the AP reported.

The U.S. Department of Justice and Saab’s lawyer, Neil Schuster, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.