Venezuela’s government said Saturday it has deported former Industry Minister Alex Saab to the United States.
Saab is a close ally of former President Nicolas Maduro.
“The deportation measure was adopted taking into account the fact that the aforementioned Colombian citizen is involved in the commission of various crimes in the United States, as has been made public, known and reported,” the Venezuelan Immigration Administration said in a statement.
The Venezuelan Constitution does not allow extradition of Venezuelan citizens.
In this case, the country’s immigration authority determined that Saab was a Colombian citizen and ordered him “deported” to the United States.
What is the allegation against Saab?
Colombia-born Saab managed a vast import network for Maduro’s administration and made a fortune through government contracts.
He has been accused of acting as a front man and money launderer for Maduro and his government. In return Maduro granted him Venezuelan citizenship and a diplomatic passport.
Saab was first arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 on money laundering and corruption charges. He was extradited to the United States the following year.
The 54-year-old and his business partner Alvaro Pulido were accused of running a network that exploited a subsidized food aid program for Venezuelans called CLAP.
They were ultimately charged with embezzling $350 million (€301 million) from Venezuela.
A US judge later dismissed most of the charges against Saab. But he still faced a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carried a 20-year prison sentence.
However, in December 2023, Saab was released from US custody as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Venezuela.
Maduro appointed Saab to his cabinet the following year.
fall out of favor with the new administration
But Saab has fallen out of favor with the new administration that took power in January after Maduro was ousted and seized by US forces.
Interim President Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, has fired Saab from the Cabinet and stripped him of all his posts.
His wife Camilla Fabbri, who served as deputy minister for international communications, was also dismissed in February.
Saab’s extradition to the United States could deepen divisions within Rodriguez’s fragile ruling coalition in Caracas.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico