US officials and multiple sources revealed that the Venezuelan security forces conducted a law enforcement operation in the early hours of Wednesday (February 4) in the capital Caracas, detaining two businessmen with close ties to former leader Nicolás Maduro: Alex Saab and Raul Gorrín.
According to reports from various US media outlets, including Reuters, US officials stated that this arrest was the result of a “joint operation” between the US and Venezuela, with 54-year-old Saab expected to be extradited to the United States “in the coming days”.
This action comes just one month after the US military arrested Maduro, indicating that under the leadership of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s law enforcement cooperation with the US has reached a new high.
Since taking power, Rodríguez has actively cooperated with the US government, not only resuming oil exports to the US but also amending laws to attract American investment.
A US official specifically told Reuters that as the interim leader, Rodríguez controls Venezuela’s law enforcement agencies and their actions, and her cooperation in this joint operation holds significant importance.
Saab, born in Colombia, was initially a successful businessman in the textile and construction industries. He had extremely close ties with former Venezuelan president Maduro, assisting the Venezuelan government in implementing core programs such as the food distribution plan (CLAP) and low-cost housing construction (Great Mission Venezuelan Housing).
Saab was accused of laundering about $350 million through government contracts, indicted by the US Department of Justice, arrested in Africa in 2020, and extradited to the United States for trial in 2021.
In 2023, through a prisoner exchange agreement, Saab returned to Venezuela and was hailed as a “national hero” by Maduro, appointed as Minister of Industry until being dismissed by Rodríguez last month.
The other detainee, Gorrín, is the owner of the Venezuelan TV network Globovisión and has been facing money laundering charges in the US since 2017.
Despite confirmation from multiple sources that both individuals were arrested, Saab’s lawyer, Luigi Giuliano, still claims that the arrest news is “fake news” and stated to the media that Saab might come forward to clarify. Additionally, a spokesperson for Gorrín claimed that he had been released on Wednesday evening.
Jorge Rodríguez, the brother of National Assembly President and interim president Rodríguez, maintained a low profile during a press conference on Wednesday evening, stating that this matter does not fall within his jurisdiction and neither confirming nor denying the reports.
Currently, the US Department of Justice and the White House have not made an official response to the situation.