Reuters

Maduro ally Saab, Venezuelan businessman once held in US, arrested again, US official says

Colombia One

FBI Arrests Alex Saab, Maduros Alleged Front Man, in Venezuela

Caracol Radio

Alex Saab fue capturado en Venezuela

ABC.es

Detenido en Venezuela el empresario colombiano Alex Saab, testaferro de Maduro

Alex Saab, Maduro's powerful front man, arrested in Venezuela in raid with US authorities

El Espectador

La incógnita de Álex Saab: por qué puede ser clave para Estados Unidos

Biden Department of Justice

Executive Grant of Clemency

Venezuelan Television News Network Owner Charged in Alleged $1.2B Money Laundering Scheme

victoramaya

RoiLopezRivas

EmmaRincon

DarvinsonRojas

The New York Times

Venezuela Said to Detain Maduro Allies Targeted by the U.S.

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Metaculus

2Nd Us Intervention In Venezuela By April 2026

Nicolas Maduro

Evo Morales

Christopher Sabatini

William Freer

Olga Bazova

Freemason

Viri Rios

"There’s no way they [US troops] can enter Venezuela."

"I don't think the USA is going to invade Venezuela."

The Trump administration "has shown no signs so far of clear intent for direct military action."

"No one in their right mind thinks that with 4,500 people you can invade a country that's got mountains, jungle and multiple urban centers."

"It appears as if Mr. Peace President is looking into invading Venezuela under the pretext that the whole country is an illegal drug cartel and Maduro is a fugitive and an illegitimate president."

"It is my belief the United States will invade and Occupy Venezuela by Jan 2026."

Will the US Invade Venezuela?

Alex Saab, a Colombian-born businessman with close ties to Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, was detained for questioning in Caracas in the early hours of Wednesday in a joint U.S.-Venezuela effort, according to officials from both countries.

Alex Saab, a Colombian-born businessman with close ties to Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, was detained for questioning in Caracas in the early hours of Wednesday in a joint U.S.-Venezuela effort, according to officials from both countries.

This comes as news outlets in Colombia first reported that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/cia-chief-meets-venezuela-leader-after-maduro-capture">Venezuela's former industry minister</a> and Raúl Gorrín, another Maduro-linked businessman wanted in the U.S., had been arrested in a joint operation by local authorities and the FBI.

This comes as news outlets in Colombia first reported that Venezuela's former industry minister and Raúl Gorrín, another Maduro-linked businessman wanted in the U.S., had been arrested in a joint operation by local authorities and the FBI.

A lawyer for Saab dismissed the reports as "fake news," saying they had met on Wednesday morning, and a lawyer for Gorrín stated his client was free as of Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, authorities in Venezuela claimed to have no information on the matter.

Darvinson Rojas Sánchez

A lawyer for Saab dismissed the reports as "fake news," saying they had met on Wednesday morning, and a lawyer for Gorrín stated his client was free as of Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, authorities in Venezuela claimed to have no information on the matter.

If confirmed, these arrests would indicate a new level of cooperation between Caracas and Washington following the seizure of Maduro. According to reports, Saab could face a second extradition to the U.S. in the coming days.

If confirmed, these arrests would indicate a new level of cooperation between Caracas and Washington following the seizure of Maduro. According to reports, Saab could face a second extradition to the U.S. in the coming days.

Saab was first extradited to the U.S. after his arrest in Cape Verde in 2020 to face federal charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering in an alleged scheme that diverted around $350 million out of Venezuela through the U.S. financial system.

Saab was first extradited to the U.S. after his arrest in Cape Verde in 2020 to face federal charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering in an alleged scheme that diverted around $350 million out of Venezuela through the U.S. financial system.

Three years later, former U.S. President Joe Biden granted him a full pardon in exchange for the release of U.S. citizens held in Venezuela, conditioned upon his departure from the U.S. and not committing additional crimes against the U.S. or in violation of the laws of the U.S.

Three years later, former U.S. President Joe Biden granted him a full pardon in exchange for the release of U.S. citizens held in Venezuela, conditioned upon his departure from the U.S.  and not committing additional crimes against the U.S. or in violation of the laws of the U.S.

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The New York Times #

Metaculus #

Colombia-born Venezuelan official Alex Saabaccording to a U.S. law enforcement official who spokes to Reuters.Venezuelan official Alex Saab was reportedly arrested in Venezuela on Wednesday as part of a joint operation between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities, according to a U.S. law enforcement official. Saab, a close ally of former President Nicolas Maduro, was previously held in the U.S. for more than three years on bribery charges before being granted clemency in exchange for the release of Americans held in Venezuela.

Colombia-born Venezuelan official Alex Saabaccording to a U.S. law enforcement official who spokes to Reuters.Venezuelan official Alex Saab was reportedly arrested in Venezuela on Wednesday as part of a joint operation between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities, according to a U.S. law enforcement official. Saab, a close ally of former President Nicolas Maduro, was previously held in the U.S. for more than three years on bribery charges before being granted clemency in exchange for the release of Americans held in Venezuela.

Saab was removed from his position as minister by interim President Delcy Rodriguez just weeks before his reported arrest. The joint operation also resulted in the detention of Raul Gorrin, owner of Venezuela's Globovision TV network, who faces U.S. charges related to a $1.2 billion money laundering scheme.

Saab was removed from his position as minister by interim President Delcy Rodriguez just weeks before his reported arrest. The joint operation also resulted in the detention of Raul Gorrin, owner of Venezuela's Globovision TV network, who faces U.S. charges related to a $1.2 billion money laundering scheme.

Luigi Giuliano, identified as Saab's lawyer, denied the arrest reports as "fake news" and stated he had been with Saab that morning. Venezuelan officials, including Fiscal General Tarek William Saab, declined to confirm or deny the information, while Saab's last social media post dated to February 1.

Luigi Giuliano, identified as Saab's lawyer, denied the arrest reports as "fake news" and stated he had been with Saab that morning. Venezuelan officials, including Fiscal General Tarek William Saab, declined to confirm or deny the information, while Saab's last social media post dated to February 1.

The reported arrest represents a potential shift in cooperation between Caracas and Washington following the recent capture of Nicolas Maduro. Saab is expected to be extradited to the U.S. in the coming days, according to the U.S. official, and remains in custody of Venezuelan intelligence services.

The reported arrest represents a potential shift in cooperation between Caracas and Washington following the recent capture of Nicolas Maduro. Saab is expected to be extradited to the U.S. in the coming days, according to the U.S. official, and remains in custody of Venezuelan intelligence services.

Saab was initially detained in Cape Verde in 2020 and extradited to the United States, where he faced federal charges for conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. officials had charged Saab with siphoning around $350 million out of Venezuela through the U.S. as part of a bribery scheme linked to Venezuela's state-controlled exchange rate.

Saab was initially detained in Cape Verde in 2020 and extradited to the United States, where he faced federal charges for conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. officials had charged Saab with siphoning around $350 million out of Venezuela through the U.S. as part of a bribery scheme linked to Venezuela's state-controlled exchange rate.

In December 2023, President Joe Biden granted Saab a full pardon conditioned upon his departure from the United States and waiver of all claims against the U.S. government. Upon his return to Venezuela, Maduro lauded his loyalty to the country's socialist revolution and later appointed him as industry minister.

In December 2023, President Joe Biden granted Saab a full pardon conditioned upon his departure from the United States and waiver of all claims against the U.S. government. Upon his return to Venezuela, Maduro lauded his loyalty to the country's socialist revolution and later appointed him as industry minister.

Reports claiming Alex Saab has been arrested and is being transferred to the United States are completely false. Intelligence sources pushing this story have failed once again. The arrest narrative is baseless misinformation.

Reports claiming Alex Saab has been arrested and is being transferred to the United States are completely false. Intelligence sources pushing this story have failed once again. The arrest narrative is baseless misinformation.

Roi López Rivas

Alex Saab is indeed detained, and the lack of official denials proves it. His associates are scrambling internally, claiming the arrest is false only because they're fighting among themselves about whether to release him. The detention is real.

Alex Saab is indeed detained, and the lack of official denials proves it. His associates are scrambling internally, claiming the arrest is false only because they're fighting among themselves about whether to release him. The detention is real.

Emmanuel Rincón

The US Seizure of Nicolás Maduro

The US-Venezuela Conflict

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Crime & justice

United States of America

Venezuela

Reports claiming Saab has been arrested and is set to be extradited to the U.S. are completely false. Far-right opposition sources pushing this story have failed once again, and are promoting baseless misinformation.

Reports claiming Saab has been arrested and is set to be extradited to the U.S. are completely false. Far-right opposition sources pushing this story have failed once again, and are promoting baseless misinformation.

The lack of official denials proves that Saab is indeed detained. His associates are scrambling internally, claiming the arrest is false only because they're fighting among themselves about whether to release him.

The lack of official denials proves that Saab is indeed detained. His associates are scrambling internally, claiming the arrest is false only because they're fighting among themselves about whether to release him.

There's a 13% chance that the U.S. will intervene militarily in Venezuela again before May 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 13% chance that the U.S. will intervene militarily in Venezuela again before May 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

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Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

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Freer

Sabatini

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