Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuela’s power under Nicolas Maduro, has been expelled to the United States on Saturday, Venezuelan authorities announced in a statement, five months after the capture of the ousted president by the American army.
“Venezuela informs about the expulsion of Colombian citizen Alex Naim Saab Moran, carried out on May 16, 2026. The expulsion measure was adopted taking into account the fact that said Colombian citizen is involved in various crimes in the United States of America, as it is publicly known and widely reported by the media,” according to the statement from the Venezuelan immigration authorities (Saime).
Alex Saab had become close to the Venezuelan government during the final years of Hugo Chavez’s mandate (1999-2013) and had come to manage a vast network of imports for Nicolas Maduro’s government. He was considered a key intermediary of the regime, as the country tried to adapt to international sanctions.
He was particularly responsible for importing products destined for the subsidized food sales social program, known as Clap, marred by corruption allegations.
The extradition of a Venezuelan in the legal sense is prohibited by the Constitution, but the immigration authority considered Mr. Saab to be Colombian and proceeded with an “expulsion” to the United States where he was wanted.
Mr. Saab was arrested during a layover in Cape Verde in 2020 and extradited in 2021 to the United States, which accused him of embezzlement of food aid and money laundering for Mr. Maduro.
He was exchanged in December 2023 for ten Americans imprisoned in Venezuela. A release that Mr. Maduro, captured on January 3rd by the American army, had then described as a “triumph.”
Mr. Saab was welcomed with great fanfare upon his return, and was then appointed minister.
In early February, media reported the arrest of Alex Saab at the FBI’s request, while a source close to the regime had revealed that he was “at home,” without providing further details.
Delcy Rodriguez, former Vice President of Nicolas Maduro, took over the reins of power after his capture and removed Saab from the government, also dismissing his Italian wife Camila Fabri from positions she held.
She also removed several close associates of Nicolas Maduro from positions of power.
Under pressure from Washington, she made numerous changes, adopting an amnesty law to release political prisoners and reforming the oil sector to open it up to private interests.
