US Frees Alex Saab, a Close Associate of Venezuelan President Maduro

According to AP news agency, the United States has released Alex Saab, a close aide of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as part of a prisoner exchange. Saab was accused of money laundering on behalf of the Maduro government, which he denied. He was extradited to the US in 2021 after being arrested in Cape Verde during a stopover. The businessman was reportedly freed in exchange for the release of several US citizens held in Venezuela. Although the White House has not officially commented, a "high-level Venezuelan source" quoted by Reuters claimed that 36 prisoners, including 12 US citizens, would be released. The Maduro government has long demanded Saab's release, describing him as a "diplomat." Saab, who was born in Colombia, was detained in Cape Verde in 2020 when his plane refueled there. The Venezuelan government argued that he was an "envoy" traveling to Iran to purchase medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Cape Verde ruled that he did not have diplomatic status and extradited him to the US. He was charged with money laundering and bribery by US prosecutors. According to them, Saab fraudulently diverted $350 million from Venezuelan government contracts using favorable exchange rates, then laundered the money in the US before transferring it to accounts controlled by him and his associate. The US Treasury Department has labeled Saab as a "profiteer orchestrating a vast corruption network." It accuses him of enabling President Maduro and his regime to profit significantly from food imports and distribution in Venezuela. Saab has denied the charges, and the Maduro government has supported him, even walking out of US-backed talks with the Venezuelan opposition in protest at his extradition. This is not the first prisoner exchange between the US and Venezuela. In October 2022, Venezuela freed seven imprisoned US citizens in exchange for the release of two nephews of Maduro's wife, known as the "narco-nephews." These men were serving 18-year sentences in the US for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country. Relations between the US and Venezuela have been improving in recent years. In October of this year, the US agreed to ease sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for President Maduro allowing international observers to monitor next year's presidential election. However, the US has reiterated its demand for the release of US citizens wrongfully detained in Venezuela and threatened to reinstate sanctions if progress is not made in this matter. Human rights groups in Venezuela have also called for the release of nearly 300 people they consider political prisoners in Venezuelan jails.