« Venezuela reports the expulsion of Colombian citizen Alex Naim Saab Moran, effective 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 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 Chávez’s mandate (1999-2013) and had come to manage a vast import network for Nicolás Maduro’s government. He was considered an intermediary of power, as the country tried to adapt to international sanctions. He was notably in charge of importing products for the subsidized food sales social program known as “Clap,” which has been tainted by corruption allegations.
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 being sought.
Alex Saab had been arrested during a layover in Cape Verde in 2020 and extradited to the United States in 2021, where he was accused of embezzlement of food aid and money laundering in favor of Nicolas Maduro. He was exchanged in December 2023 for ten Americans imprisoned in Venezuela. This release was deemed a “triumph” by Nicolas Maduro, who was removed on January 3 in Caracas by the US military.
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In February, media outlets reported his arrest at the FBI’s request
Upon his return, Alex Saab was welcomed with great fanfare and appointed as a minister. In early February, media reports indicated his arrest at the FBI’s request, while a source close to the government revealed he was “at home,” without providing further details.
Delcy Rodríguez, former vice president of Nicolás Maduro, took over the reins of power after his capture. She removed Saab from the government and also ousted his Italian wife, Camila Fabri, from her positions. She also distanced several close associates of Nicolás Maduro from power circles. Under pressure from Washington, she made numerous changes, including enacting an amnesty law to release political prisoners and reforming the oil sector to open it up to private investment.
