Venezuela’s government deported longtime Nicolás Maduro ally Alex Saab to the United States on Saturday, less than three years after Biden pardoned the businessman in a prisoner swap. Venezuelan authorities said the move was tied to multiple ongoing U.S. criminal investigations.
Saab, a Colombian-born businessman long described by U.S. officials as Maduro’s “bag man,” was removed from key government positions after Rodríguez took power on Jan. 3, including his Cabinet role and position overseeing foreign investment deals tied to Venezuela.
Federal prosecutors have been investigating Saab’s alleged role in a bribery scheme connected to Venezuela’s CLAP food import program. Prosecutors identified Saab as “Co-Conspirator 1” in a Miami-based case involving allegations that shell companies were used to secure inflated food contracts through bribery.
Saab was first arrested in 2020 after his plane stopped in Cape Verde while traveling to Iran. Biden later agreed to free Saab in exchange for imprisoned Americans and the return of fugitive defense contractor “Fat Leonard.”
