Alex Saab, former Venezuelan minister and Colombian-Venezuelan businessman, was arrested this Wednesday (4) in a joint operation between the United States and Venezuela, an American police official told Reuters.
Saab was a close ally of dictator Nicolás Maduro. He had already been arrested previously, in 2020, remaining in prison for more than three years due to a bribery scheme.
He later received a pardon in exchange for the release of American citizens detained in Venezuela.
with Maduro praising his loyalty to the country’s socialist revolution and honoring him as a national hero.
Furthermore, the dictator, a position he held until last month,
Colombian broadcaster Caracol reported that Saab was detained by the internal intelligence service Sebin and that he could be extradited to the US.
Caracol Radio, an entity separate from the television station, said that the operation took place in the early hours of this Wednesday morning and that businessman Raul Gorrin was also detained.
The action was carried out in conjunction with the FBI, the United States federal investigation agency, according to Blu Radio.
Venezuela’s Communications Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment and it was not immediately possible to ascertain whether Saab or Gorrin have legal representation.
