Maduro’s alleged frontman Alex Saab reportedly captured in Caracas

Alex Saab, a key ally and alleged frontman of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has reportedly been detained in Caracas, Venezuela, in a joint operation involving Venezuelan intelligence and the FBI. Saab, a Colombian-Venezuelan businessman previously indicted in the US for money laundering and corruption involving $350 million in government funds, was allegedly taken into custody at a luxury home along with media mogul Raúl Gorrín. While a US official confirmed the detention and anticipated extradition to the US, Saab's lawyer has denied the reports. Saab was previously arrested in Cape Verde and extradited to the US in 2021 before being released in a prisoner swap in December 2023 and subsequently appointed as a minister in Venezuela. Gorrín's representative stated he was free as of Wednesday evening.

Alex Saab, a close ally of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was reportedly arrested in Venezuela on Wednesday in a joint operation between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities. A U.S. official stated that Saab, previously held in the U.S. on bribery charges before being granted clemency, is expected to be extradited to the U.S. Saab's lawyer and Venezuelan government-aligned journalists have denied the arrest. The head of Venezuela's Globovision TV network, Raul Gorrin, was also reportedly arrested in the operation. The U.S. official highlighted the significance of interim President Delcy Rodríguez's cooperation in the operation. Saab was previously accused of taking $350 million out of Venezuela through the U.S. as part of a bribery scheme.

Venezuelan security agents questioned businessmen Raúl Gorrín and Alex Saab, both previously charged with money laundering in the United States, in Caracas between Tuesday and Wednesday. The detentions of these allies of deposed leader Nicolás Maduro signal increasing cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela under Maduro's successor, Delcy Rodríguez. The U.S. had knowledge of the detentions, which occurred a month after U.S. forces attacked Venezuela and captured Maduro. Rodríguez has since reoriented Venezuela's oil exports to the U.S. and rewritten oil laws to encourage American investment. Gorrín and Saab are the first prominent Maduro allies targeted by Rodríguez's administration, reflecting her efforts to redistribute wealth and power and sideline Maduro loyalists.