Scandal in Venezuela. Former Minister of Industry and media magnate in the hands of the services

Former Venezuelan Industry Minister Alex Saab was detained in the country's capital, Caracas, an employee of the Colombian embassy in this city said on Thursday. The Colombian politician was one of the most trusted associates of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Colombian Radio Caracol and the Venezuelan daily “El Nacional” reported on Thursday that, along with Saab, the co-owner of the Venezuelan television company Globovision, Raul Gorrin, was also arrested, and the US authorities have been investigating him for corruption since 2019.

According to “El Nacional”, Alex Saab from the Colombian city of Barranquilla was captured on Wednesday morning.

“It was a joint operation of the Venezuelan authorities and the FBI, carried out in Caracas,” the independent daily wrote on its website on Thursday.

On January 16, almost two weeks after the American military captured Nicolas Maduro, Saab, 54, resigned from his position as Venezuela's industry minister. His place was taken by Luis Villegas.

Saab was detained in 2020 during a stopover in Cape Verde, on its way to Iran. The authorities of this former Portuguese colony handed him over to the US services in 2021, and they placed Saab in custody in connection with a money laundering scandal. He returned to Caracas in 2023, after an exchange for ten American prisoners staying in Venezuela.

Wednesday's detention of Saab is – according to commentators – proof of the ongoing changes in Venezuela, which took place in early January after the intervention of American forces and the capture of Maduro. The former Venezuelan leader is facing trial in New York in which he is accused of, among other things, involvement in narco-terrorism.

Shortly after Maduro's detention, the duties of the head of state were taken over by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who, according to US administration representatives, is willing to cooperate with the US. (PAP)

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