Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close associate of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, landed at Caracas’ Maiquetía International Airport at 3:55 p.m. local time after the United States released him after 1,286 days in custody in Miami on charges of money laundering conspiracy of money.
Saab arrived in Venezuela after Joe Biden’s administration announced his release, an announcement immediately confirmed by Nicolás Maduro, who “joyfully celebrated his release and his return to his homeland”, where he arrived accompanied by the President of the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), Jorge Rodríguez.
His wife Camila Fabri and First Lady Cilia Flores were waiting for him at the airport, as were the five children of the released prisoner, who is recognized by the government as a Venezuelan diplomat, although the US court rejected the charges when it requested his extradition Cape requested. Verde., where he was held on June 12, 2020.
Nicolás Maduro receives Alex Saab at the presidential palace
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro received Alex Saab at the Miraflores Presidential Palace, who was accompanied by his wife Camilla Fabri and first lady Cilia Flores.
Saab was “a courageous and patriotic man” who “resisted the most adverse and painful conditions of kidnapping for forty months,” Maduro said, referring to the time he spent in a “dirty prison” where he suffered “physical and” suffered psychological attacks. ”. , threats and lies.
Moreover, the Chavista leader reiterated to his North American counterpart Joe Biden his availability for “personal” and “respectful” relations between the two countries, which have not had a common ambassador since 2010.
Alex Saab was extradited to the US in 2021
Saab was arrested in Cape Verde in June 2020 on US charges after his plane stopped for refueling.
The Venezuelan government said at the time that Saab had been appointed as a diplomat to negotiate the transfer of fuel and humanitarian aid from Iran.
He was extradited to the United States in October 2021.
What are the charges against you?
Federal prosecutors in Miami accused Saab of diverting about $350 million from Venezuela through the United States as part of a bribery scheme related to Venezuela’s currency controls.
Saab and an employee were accused of bribing Venezuelan government officials to secure payments in US dollars at a favorable rate. Money laundering through a plan to build affordable housing in Venezuela.
U.S. court documents showed that Saab agreed to be an “active law enforcement source” for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration before his arrest, although one of his attorneys said he only met with U.S. law enforcement officials to explain that their companies were doing so. didn’t. not bad.
Venezuela extradites military contractors
This release occurred at a time when Venezuela also released approximately thirty people considered political prisoners, including ten Americans, whose exchange for Saab was negotiated between the governments of the two countries.
As part of the deal, Venezuela also agreed to extradite U.S. military contractor Leonard Francis, known as “Fat Leonard,” who is allegedly responsible for one of the biggest corruption scandals in the U.S. military.
To accomplish this exchange, they explained, Biden had to make the “very difficult decision to offer something that Venezuelan colleagues were actively seeking,” the release of Saab. (EFE and Reuters)
Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
