Colombian Alex Saab (54) has been extradited to the United States from Venezuela. For many years he was Maduro’s “bag man”; he knew the money transactions. He may now become an important witness against Maduro. The extradition shows that the new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has begun cooperating with Washington in the dismantling of the cartel empire.
There are several dimensions to the case: Biden pardoned Saab. Biden also reduced the CIA presence in Caracas to almost nothing. The cartels were able to operate freely.
The machines from Dominion and Smartmatic, which were capable of manipulating elections, were developed in Venezuela under Cuban supervision.
Saab, whom American authorities describe as Maduro’s “money man”, was previously arrested in 2020 on bribery charges, and according to AP, American authorities claim that he siphoned 350 million dollars out of Venezuela.
While Biden’s pardon in 2023 concerned a specific 2019 indictment relating to unbuilt housing for low-income groups, Saab still faces active federal investigations into alleged bribery conspiracies connected to Venezuelan food import contracts.
NTB’s version:
Maduro ally extradited to the United States
Venezuela has extradited the country’s former industry minister, Maduro supporter Alex Saab, to the United States.
“The deportation was decided with reference to the fact that this Colombian citizen is involved in the commission of several criminal acts in the United States, something well known and publicly reported,” a statement from Venezuelan officials says.
Saab was born in Venezuela’s neighbouring country Colombia and is a citizen of both countries. In order to deport him, however, Venezuela’s immigration authorities placed emphasis on his Colombian nationality.
Saturday’s decision means that he has been extradited to the United States for the second time. The previous occasion was in 2020. At that time he was arrested in Cape Verde and extradited the following year, accused of money laundering. He was released in 2023 in a prisoner exchange with the United States.
Saab has been a close supporter of Nicolás Maduro, who was president of Venezuela until he and his wife were abducted in an American military operation in January. Maduro is currently being held in pre-trial detention in New York and is charged with extensive narcotics trafficking.