In a surprising turn of events, Venezuela’s government announced on Saturday that it has extradited Alex Saab, a close associate of Nicolás Maduro, to the United States. This development comes nearly three years after Saab was granted clemency by President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner exchange.
This decision represents a significant shift for Saab, who Maduro had previously sought to protect following his international arrest in 2020. Saab, originally from Colombia and often referred to by U.S. officials as Maduro’s “bag man,” is now poised to potentially testify against Maduro. The former Venezuelan leader is currently awaiting trial on drug charges in Manhattan after a dramatic U.S. military operation led to his capture in January.
Venezuelan immigration authorities released a brief statement on Saturday, omitting specifics on Saab’s destination but indicating the extradition was linked to multiple ongoing U.S. criminal investigations. By referring to Saab as a “Colombian citizen,” the statement subtly acknowledged Venezuelan laws that bar the extradition of its nationals. Previously, Maduro and Delcy Rodríguez, the acting President, had claimed Saab was a Venezuelan diplomat wrongfully detained during a stopover en route to an essential humanitarian mission in Iran.
The foundation of the investigation dates back to a 2021 Justice Department case against Saab’s longtime associate, Alvaro Pulido. This Miami-based prosecution targets the CLAP program, an initiative launched by Maduro to supply essential goods like rice, corn flour, and cooking oil to impoverished Venezuelans amid severe hyperinflation and economic collapse.
Saab, now 54, built a considerable fortune through numerous contracts with the Venezuelan government. However, he has since fallen out of favor with the nation’s new leadership that succeeded Maduro.
Since assuming office on January 3, Rodríguez has distanced herself from Saab, removing him from her Cabinet and his position as a key liaison for foreign investments in Venezuela. In recent months, conflicting reports have emerged regarding Saab’s status, with some suggesting he was either imprisoned or under house arrest.
The investigation stems from a 2021 case the Justice Department brought against Saab’s longtime partner, Alvaro Pulido, a former law enforcement official said. That prosecution, out of Miami, centers around the so-called CLAP program set up by Maduro to provide staples — rice, corn flour, cooking oil — to poor Venezuelans struggling to feed themselves at a time of rampant hyperinflation and a crumbling currency.
Saab, 54, amassed a fortune through Venezuelan government contracts. But he fell out of favor with the country’s new leadership that took power following Maduro’s ouster.
Since taking over from Maduro on Jan. 3, Rodríguez demoted Saab, firing him from her Cabinet and stripping him of his role as the main conduit for foreign companies looking to invest in Venezuela. For months conflicting news accounts have circulated that he was imprisoned or under house arrest.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
