Venezuela’s government announced on Saturday that it has deported Alex Saab, a close ally of former President Nicolás Maduro, to the United States to face judicial proceedings. This marks a stark reversal for Saab, who was pardoned by US President Joe Biden in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap, less than three years ago.
Background of the Case
Saab, a Colombian-born businessman, was long described by US officials as Maduro’s “bag man.” He was arrested internationally in 2020 on charges of money laundering and corruption. Maduro fought vigorously to secure his return to Venezuela, claiming Saab was a diplomat on a humanitarian mission. However, after Maduro’s ouster in January 2026, Saab fell out of favor with the new leadership under acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Reversal of Fortune
Since taking power, Rodríguez demoted Saab, removing him from her Cabinet and stripping him of his role as the primary intermediary for foreign investors in Venezuela. Conflicting reports had circulated for months about whether Saab was imprisoned or under house arrest. The Venezuelan immigration authority did not explicitly state where Saab was sent but referenced ongoing US criminal investigations.
The statement referred to Saab only as a “Colombian citizen,” likely a nod to Venezuelan law, which prohibits the extradition of its own nationals. Following his initial arrest, Maduro and Rodríguez had claimed Saab was a Venezuelan diplomat illegally detained during a refueling stop en route to Iran.
US Investigations and Bribery Allegations
The Associated Press reported in February that federal prosecutors have been investigating Saab’s role in an alleged bribery conspiracy involving Venezuelan government contracts to import food. The probe stems from a 2021 case against Saab’s longtime partner, Alvaro Pulido, in Miami. That case centers on the CLAP program, a food distribution initiative set up by Maduro to provide staples like rice, corn flour, and cooking oil to poor Venezuelans during hyperinflation.
Saab, 54, amassed a fortune through Venezuelan government contracts but lost influence after Maduro’s downfall. He now may be asked to testify against his former protector, who awaits trial on drug charges in Manhattan after being captured by US military forces in January 2026.
The US Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.
