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Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Joint US-Venezuela Operation
Venezuelan official Alex Saab, a prominent businessman and close confidant of former President Nicolás Maduro, was arrested Wednesday in Venezuela during a joint operation between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities, according to a U.S. law enforcement official.
Saab, 54, is expected to be extradited to the United States within days, marking a significant development in the shifting diplomatic and enforcement landscape between the two nations.
The arrest comes amid considerable confusion and contradictory statements. Saab’s lawyer, Luigi Giuliano, called the reports “fake news” in comments to Colombian newspaper El Espectador. He later told Venezuelan news outlet TalCual that Saab might make a public appearance to address the allegations personally after consulting with government officials.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s top lawmaker, Jorge Rodríguez, neither confirmed nor denied the reports during a press conference, stating he had no information about the alleged arrest.
The operation also reportedly resulted in the detention of Raul Gorrin, who heads Venezuela’s Globovision TV network, according to the same U.S. official.
This development signals an unprecedented level of cooperation between U.S. authorities and the interim Venezuelan government led by Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy who assumed control after Maduro’s capture. Rodríguez now oversees Venezuela’s law enforcement agencies, and her collaboration in this operation represents a significant shift in bilateral relations.
Saab’s legal troubles with the United States date back several years. The Colombian-born businessman was previously detained in Cape Verde in 2020 and subsequently held in the U.S. for more than three years on bribery charges. American prosecutors had accused him of orchestrating a scheme that siphoned approximately $350 million out of Venezuela through the U.S. as part of a corruption operation connected to Venezuela’s state-controlled exchange rate.
During his previous detention, Saab sought to have the charges dismissed on grounds of diplomatic immunity. However, before an appeals court could rule on his case, he was granted clemency as part of a broader prisoner exchange that secured the release of several Americans detained in Venezuela.
When Saab returned to Venezuela in late 2023, then-President Maduro celebrated him as a national hero and praised his loyalty to the country’s socialist revolution. Maduro subsequently appointed him as industry minister, a position Saab held until last month when he was dismissed by interim President Rodríguez following Maduro’s arrest.
The case highlights the complex and rapidly evolving political situation in Venezuela following recent dramatic changes in leadership. The U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s capture has been followed by the Trump administration’s seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and increasing pressure on the interim government.
For years, Saab has been viewed by U.S. officials as a key financial operator in Maduro’s inner circle, allegedly helping the regime circumvent international sanctions while enriching himself through government contracts and currency manipulation schemes.
His rearrest suggests that the interim Venezuelan government under Rodríguez may be recalibrating its relationship with the United States and potentially distancing itself from figures closely associated with the Maduro regime. The case also demonstrates the complex interplay between diplomatic negotiations and law enforcement operations in managing U.S.-Venezuela relations.
As this situation continues to develop, questions remain about the implications for Venezuela’s political stability and the fate of other Maduro allies who may now find themselves vulnerable to similar joint enforcement actions.
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7 Comments
This is a complex geopolitical situation with a lot of moving parts. It will be important to follow the diplomatic fallout and legal proceedings closely, as they could have significant implications for the future of US-Venezuela relations and the stability of Maduro’s regime.
The conflicting reports and statements around this arrest make the situation quite murky. It’s unclear if Saab has actually been detained or if this is just more political posturing. I’ll be watching closely to see how this all unfolds in the days ahead.
The involvement of both US and Venezuelan authorities in this operation suggests there may be some degree of cooperation, despite the generally adversarial relationship between the two governments. That could be an interesting development to follow.
Saab’s close ties to Maduro and his role in Venezuela’s economy make him a high-profile target. His arrest could disrupt some of Maduro’s key business and financial operations, which could have ripple effects across the country’s struggling economy.
The detention of Raul Gorrin, the head of Venezuela’s Globovision network, is also noteworthy. It suggests this operation may be targeting a broader network of Maduro’s allies and enablers, beyond just Saab himself.
This arrest of Alex Saab, a close Maduro ally, seems to be a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the US and Venezuela. It will be interesting to see how this plays out diplomatically and what implications it has for the political dynamics in the region.
Saab’s extradition to the US could provide valuable intelligence and insight into the workings of Maduro’s inner circle. However, Venezuela is likely to strongly oppose this move and it could further strain relations between the two countries.