Holding Criminal Evidence Against Maduro? Ally Alex Saab Deported to the United States

Caracas, May 16 (AFP/Reuters) - Venezuelan officials have stated that Alex Saab, a close associate of ousted former President Nicolas Maduro and former Minister of Industry, was deported again to the United States today. 'The deportation measure was taken given that it is well-known and has been reported that the aforementioned Colombian citizen is involved in multiple crimes in the United States,' the Venezuelan immigration authority said in a statement. According to U.S. law enforcement officials at the time, Saab was arrested in Caracas in February of this year in a joint operation between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities. Saab, a Colombian-born businessman, developed close ties with the Venezuelan government during the final years of leftist strongman Hugo Chavez's rule from 1999 to 2013, subsequently managing a vast import network for the Maduro administration. He is accused of acting as a front man and money launderer for Maduro and his government, in return for which the Maduro government granted him Venezuelan citizenship and a diplomatic passport. He was first arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 on money laundering and corruption charges and was extradited to the U.S. the following year. Sources familiar with the matter suggest that Saab may provide information to U.S. authorities to strengthen the criminal case against Maduro. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were brought to New York in January of this year to face criminal charges, including a drug-terrorism conspiracy. Both have denied the allegations. Saab and his wife resided in Italy for several years. Luigi Giuliano, a lawyer who previously defended Saab, stated today that he is not handling Saab's case in the U.S. and thus could not confirm this deportation. Another lawyer for Saab did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Translation: Chen Yu-ting)