Alex Saab, the Colombian businessman long tied to Nicolás Maduro’s shady dealings, has reportedly been nabbed again in a stunning joint operation.
Multiple outlets, including Colombia’s Caracol Radio and El Colombiano, as well as Reuters, reported that Saab, 54, was arrested in Caracas on Wednesday through a coordinated effort between the FBI and Venezuelan authorities. Alongside Saab, Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín, a fugitive with close ties to Maduro, was also apprehended in the same operation.
At press time, no official confirmation or denial of Saab’s arrest has come from Venezuela’s socialist regime. This isn’t Saab’s first run-in with the law—he was initially arrested in Cape Verde back in 2020 by U.S. authorities.
He faced charges of laundering a staggering $350 million from Venezuelan state funds, a scheme that enriched cronies while everyday Venezuelans starved.
Under President Trump’s first term, Saab was sanctioned in 2019 for his role in the corrupt CLAP food program, a supposed aid initiative that became a cash cow for Maduro’s inner circle.
Meanwhile, Gorrín, charged in 2024 by a federal grand jury in Florida for a $1.2-billion laundering plot, was also hit with Trump-era sanctions in 2019 for exploiting currency controls to amass over $2.4 billion illicitly.
These men aren’t small fry—they’ve been pivotal in propping up a regime that’s crushed dissent and driven millions into poverty and exile.
Here’s where the plot thickens: in December 2023, the Biden administration inexplicably released Saab back to Venezuela in a prisoner swap with Maduro. The excuse? Supposedly, this would address the “root causes” of Venezuelan migration flooding our borders.
Let’s call this what it is—a naive misstep that emboldened a dictator. Maduro rolled out the red carpet for Saab, even appointing him Industries Minister, a position he held until mid-January when he was ousted by acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Saab’s lawyer, Luigi Giuliano, is pushing back, telling El Espectador that the arrest reports are “fake news” and claiming Saab is “calm in Caracas.” Does anyone buy that line when multiple credible sources say otherwise?
Reuters, citing a U.S. law enforcement official, noted Saab is expected to be extradited to the United States “in the coming days.” If true, this could signal a rare moment of accountability for Maduro’s enablers. But why the sudden cooperation from Venezuelan authorities?
Some might wonder if Maduro’s regime is cutting losses, throwing Saab under the bus to curry favor or dodge further scrutiny. Gorrín’s arrest alongside Saab—especially given his control of Globovision, once a fierce critic of the regime turned centrist lapdog after his 2013 purchase of an 80-percent stake—adds another layer of intrigue.
At a Wednesday night press conference, Jorge Rodríguez, head of the socialist-controlled National Assembly, dodged questions about Saab’s capture, saying, “I am a congressman; this is not within my area of expertise, and I have no authority or information regarding the matter you are raising.” Sounds like the classic stonewalling we’ve come to expect from this crowd.
This joint operation could be a turning point, or it could be another flash in the pan if the Biden administration fumbles the follow-through.
Conservatives have long argued that coddling regimes like Maduro’s only prolongs the suffering of Venezuelans and fuels crises at our own borders.
Trump’s sanctions on Saab and Gorrín showed a no-nonsense approach—hit the corrupt where it hurts, in their wallets. If Saab’s extradition happens, it’s a chance to send a message: no deal, no swap, no pardon can shield you from justice when America’s resolve is firm.
