Venezuela's government deported Colombian businessman Alex Saab to the United States on Saturday (16), where he faces money laundering charges dating from 2019. According to the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration and Foreigners (Saime), the measure was adopted because Saab is "involved in the practice of various crimes in the United States of America." ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O governo da Venezuela anunciou a deportação do empresário Alex Saab, ex-ministro da Indústria do país, nesse sábado (16). Ele é acusado de lavagem de dinheiro pelo governo estadunidense."
"a medida foi tomada devido ao empresário estar "envolvido na prática de diversos crimes nos Estados Unidos da América, como é de conhecimento público, notório e amplamente divulgado""
Saab, Maduro's former Industry Minister, was indicted by U.S. prosecutors in 2019 for allegedly helping Nicolás Maduro and other high-level Venezuelan officials launder hundreds of millions of dollars in corruption proceeds, according to analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The criminal case was registered as case 19-CR-20450-RNS in the Southern District of Florida on July 25, 2019. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"U.S. prosecutors indicted Saab in 2019 after he allegedly helped Nicolás Maduro and other high-level Venezuelan officials launder hundreds of millions of dollars in corruption proceeds."
"United States v. Alex Nain Saab Moran, Docket No. 19-CR-20450-RNS This case was filed on July 25, 2019 in the Southern District of Florida."
The deportation comes four months after Maduro's capture in a U.S. military operation on January 3. Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice ordered on January 4 that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the interim presidency, basing the decision on articles 234, 239 and 335 of the Venezuelan Constitution and classifying the situation as "forced absence" due to kidnapping. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Venezuelans on Saturday scrambled to understand who was in charge of their country after the U.S. military captured President Nicolás Maduro, ousting the strongman"
"the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, in exercising the interpretative power conferred upon it by Article 335 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, considers it necessary to carry out a systematic and teleological interpretation of Articles 234 and 239 of the Constitution. The forced absence of the president of the republic, as a result of his abduction, "constitutes a case of material and temporary impossibility for the exercise of his functions""
To enable the deportation, the Venezuelan government officially reclassified Saab as a Colombian citizen, since the Venezuelan Constitution prohibits extradition of its nationals. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, he had acquired dual nationality after being recognized as a Venezuelan diplomat during the Maduro administration. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Como a Constituição da Venezuela proíbe a extradição de cidadãos venezuelanos, antes de autorizar a deportação de Saab, o governo classificou o empresário oficialmente como cidadão colombiano. Nascido em Barranquilla, na Colômbia, ele adquiriu a dupla nacionalidade após ser reconhecido como diplomata venezuelano durante a gestão Maduro."
Alex Saab was deported by Venezuela to the United States on May 16, 2026
Saab was reclassified as Colombian citizen to enable deportation
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Saab was arrested in February 2026 in joint FBI-Venezuelan authorities operation
Saab was dismissed from Ministry on January 16, 2026
Conflicting versions (1)
Characterization of Maduro government
-
What was the specific mechanism of the operation that captured Saab in February 2026?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention joint operation by American and Venezuelan authorities, but operational details were not disclosed
-
What is Saab's defense's strongest argument against the American charges?
Why it's still unknown: While there is reference to DEA meetings to 'confirm that neither he nor associated companies did anything wrong', the complete defense strategy is not detailed in sources
-
What will be the impact of Saab's deportation on Venezuela-US relations?
Why it's still unknown: Sources report the fact of deportation but do not analyze its future geopolitical implications