U.S. Official Confirms Arrest of Alex Saab, Maduro's Associate
A U.S. law enforcement official has confirmed the arrest of Alex Saab, a Venezuelan official and former close associate of President Nicolás Maduro, within Venezuela. This operation was a collaborative effort between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities and is considered a politically and security-sensitive development.
According to the U.S. official, Saab, who is 54 years old, is expected to be extradited to the United States in the coming days, pending confirmation of his arrest. This could mark a significant chapter in the ongoing judicial and political confrontation between Washington and prominent figures from the former Venezuelan regime.
* Legal Denials and Media Skepticism
Luigi Giuliano, Saab's attorney, has denied the accuracy of the reports, labeling claims regarding his client's arrest as "false," according to statements cited by the Colombian newspaper El Espectador.
Additionally, journalists aligned with the Venezuelan government have questioned the validity of the news on social media, asserting that Saab has not been detained.
Giuliano did not respond immediately to emails sent to the contact addresses listed on his firm's website, while another attorney who previously represented Saab in a U.S. court in December 2023 declined to comment on the matter.
* From Cabo Verde to Washington... and Then a Pardon
Born in Colombia, Alex Saab is a key figure in the economic and political network surrounding Maduro during his time in power.
He was arrested in Cabo Verde in 2020 before being extradited to the United States, where he was detained for over three years on charges related to bribery and corruption.
Notably, Saab later received a U.S. pardon in exchange for the release of American citizens detained in Venezuela, bringing his name back into the spotlight with these recent developments.
* After Maduro... Unprecedented Cooperation
This development comes just a month after U.S. forces arrested Nicolás Maduro himself in Caracas, an event that has shaken the Venezuelan political landscape.
If Saab's arrest and extradition are confirmed, it would reflect an unprecedented level of cooperation between U.S. and Venezuelan law enforcement under the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez, former vice president of Maduro and current interim president.
Observers believe that this step, if verified, could signify a radical shift in the relationship between Washington and Caracas and potentially lead to new legal actions against prominent figures within the former regime's inner circle.
