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.

Colombian Businessman Charged with Money Laundering Extradited to the United States from Cabo Verde

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. Reports suggest 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. Reports suggest 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, conditional 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, conditional 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.

Reuters #

Colombia One #

Caracol Radio #

ABC.es #

Voz #

El Espectador #

Biden Department of Justice #

The New York Times #

Metaculus #

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.

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.

Roi López Rivas

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.

Emmanuel Rincón

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.

The US Seizure of Nicolás Maduro

The US-Venezuela Conflict

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

*** GETTY *** Javier Campos/Getty Images

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. 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. Opposition sources pushing this story have failed once again, and are promoting baseless misinformation.

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

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

The Controversies

Maduro

Rios

Freer

Sabatini

Bazova

Freemason

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Report: Maduro Ally Alex Saab Arrested in Venezuela

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

The Controversies

Maduro

Rios

Freer

Sabatini

Bazova

Freemason

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters