Venezuelan Ex-Official Extradited to U.S. on Bribery and Money Laundering Charges
A former close ally of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Alex Nain Saab Moran, has been deported to the United States to face serious charges. Venezuelan officials confirmed that Saab, 55, is accused of running a large-scale money laundering and bribery operation linked to Venezuela’s state-run food program and its oil sector.
Saab, who previously served as Venezuela’s minister of industry and national production, appeared in a federal court in Miami. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to prosecutors, Saab has been involved in a scheme since around 2015 that defrauded a humanitarian effort intended to provide food for struggling Venezuelans. It is alleged that he and his co-conspirators sold Venezuelan oil while disregarding U.S. sanctions, funneling the profits through U.S. banks to hide their activities.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva commented on the case, stating, “Alex Saab allegedly used American banks to launder hundreds of millions of dollars stolen from a Venezuelan food program for the poor.” He emphasized that the U.S. will not tolerate foreign individuals exploiting the American financial system.
The indictment claims Saab and his associates bribed Venezuelan officials to secure contracts for the CLAP welfare program, which was meant to help vulnerable citizens. Instead of delivering food, they allegedly used fake companies and invoices to siphon off hundreds of millions for themselves.
As U.S. sanctions severely affected Venezuela’s oil exports and finances, Saab supposedly exploited corrupt connections to sell state-owned oil. The earnings were allegedly used to maintain the fraudulent food program.
Saab and his group are accused of hiding the illicit funds through American bank accounts, giving U.S. authorities jurisdiction over the case. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones asserted, “When illegal funds move through the U.S. financial system, our courts have the jurisdiction to act.”
Previously indicted in 2019, Saab was extradited from Cabo Verde in 2021. Although he received a pardon from President Biden in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap, prosecutors maintain that the current charges stem from actions not covered by that pardon.
If found guilty, Saab could face up to 20 years in federal prison, with the government also seeking to seize any assets gained through unlawful activities. The investigation involved a multi-agency task force including the DEA, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.
