Expelled Saturday to the United States, Alex Saab, a Colombian of Lebanese origin, once a powerful figure in Venezuela and close to ousted President Nicolas Maduro, has become a recurring issue in the relations between the two countries.
Minister under Maduro, he was sidelined by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after Maduro’s capture on January 3 by the US military.
Considered an intermediary for chavismo internationally, Alex Saab was arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 and then extradited to the United States, where authorities accused him of setting up a system to divert food aid to benefit Mr. Maduro and his government. He was exchanged for American prisoners in December 2023.
For his detractors, he is Maduro’s business puppet. His supporters, on the other hand, see him as a dedicated servant of chavismo and a clever intermediary, qualities that earned him Venezuelan nationality and a diplomatic passport.
Suspected by the US of orchestrating a vast network that allegedly allowed Nicolas Maduro and his government to divert food aid for their own benefit, Alex Saab was indicted in July 2019 in Miami. Along with his associate Alvaro Pulido, he was accused of transferring $350 million (285 million euros) out of Venezuela to foreign accounts. He faced a possible 20-year prison sentence.
In June 2020, Mr. Saab was detained during a technical stop of his private jet in Cape Verde, then extradited to the United States after a 16-month diplomatic and legal battle. Caracas demanded his release vehemently, with slogans like “Freedom for diplomat Alex Saab” and creating the hashtag #FreeAlexSaab on social media plastered across Venezuela.
“At no other time has chavismo fought so fiercely for someone. What explains this backlash?” questioned Roberto Deniz, a journalist at Armando.info and a specialist in the case at the time.
“It’s clear that there is a lot of fear. He could reveal things about the schemes, fund movements, overhead costs… He was the linchpin of Maduro’s dealings with allied countries,” added Mr. Deniz.
Context: Alex Saab is a controversial figure with ties to the Maduro government facing legal troubles in the United States.
Fact Check: The content may mention events and claims that need further verification for accuracy.
Context: Alex Saab is a controversial figure with ties to the Maduro government facing legal troubles in the United States.
Fact Check: The content may mention events and claims that need further verification for accuracy.
