MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela's government announced on Saturday the deportation of Alex Saab, a close ally of Nicolás Maduro, who is currently under investigation for several criminal cases in the United States. This move comes less than three years after Saab was pardoned by President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner swap agreement. The decision represents a significant shift for Saab, who was previously a key figure in Maduro's administration and was actively sought by the Venezuelan government following his arrest in 2020.
The Venezuelan immigration authority did not specify Saab's deportation destination but indicated the action was based on ongoing criminal investigations in the U.S. Notably, Saab was referred to solely as a "Colombian citizen," likely to adhere to Venezuelan laws that prevent the extradition of national citizens. Following his first arrest, the Venezuelan government alleged that Saab was an "innocent Venezuelan diplomat" wrongfully detained while on a humanitarian mission to Iran, aimed at bypassing U.S. sanctions.
Saab, aged 54, has accumulated significant wealth from government contracts in Venezuela. However, he fell from grace under the new leadership that emerged after Maduro, with acting President Delcy Rodríguez demoting him from her cabinet and stripping him of his role as the main connector for foreign investment in the country. Reports have surfaced indicating that Saab was either imprisoned or under house arrest for several months. His removal to the U.S. could exacerbate existing divisions within Rodríguez's fragile Chavista coalition, particularly as she seeks to appease U.S. interests.
Rodríguez has garnered substantial goodwill in Washington and has successfully stalled discussions surrounding new elections while implementing concessions to open Venezuela's oil and mining sectors to American investments. However, these concessions have displeased some radical allies within her party, including Diosdado Cabello, the Interior Minister, who reportedly wields considerable influence within the Venezuelan security forces and faces U.S. criminal charges.
There are ongoing U.S. investigations concerning Saab related to an alleged bribery conspiracy tied to Venezuelan government contracts for food imports. This inquiry traces back to a 2021 case initiated by federal prosecutors in Miami involving Saab's longtime associate, Alvaro Pulido. The case revolves around the CLAP program, established by Maduro to provide essential food items to impoverished Venezuelans struggling amid hyperinflation and currency deterioration. Saab is cited in the indictment as "Co-Conspirator 1," allegedly facilitating a network of companies to bribe a pro-Maduro governor for a food import contract at inflated prices.
Having been first arrested in 2020 during a refueling stop in Cape Verde while en route to Iran, Saab was portrayed by the Venezuelan government as being involved in a humanitarian mission. Rodríguez had previously celebrated Saab’s return to Venezuela in 2023 as a "resounding victory," despite criticism from some Republicans who labeled him a predator of vulnerable populations. In a controversial decision, Biden agreed to free Saab in exchange for several imprisoned Americans and the extradition of a fugitive named "Fat Leonard," amidst efforts to ease sanctions and encourage free elections in Venezuela.
Saab's return to U.S. custody could position him as a pivotal witness against Maduro, given that he has previously cooperated with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In 2022, his legal team revealed that he assisted the DEA in uncovering corruption within Maduro's inner circle, resulting in him forfeiting over $12 million in ill-gotten gains. At this time, Saab's attorney based in Miami, Neil Schuster, has not provided any comments, and the Justice Department has not responded to requests for statements.
