The name of Alex Saab gained strength again this Wednesday in the regional political sphere, after circulating contradictory versions about his legal situation in Venezuela. While the media have indicated that the businessman was detained in Caracas, his defense has categorically rejected that version.
In an exclusive interview with The SpectatorSaab and Camilla Fabri’s lawyer, Luigi Giuliano, described the reports about an alleged arrest as “fake news.” He assured that he was with the former minister in the morning, that “he is free” and that they would see each other again in the afternoon, denying the information circulating on information portals.
However, the Reuters news agency has published that Saab, a Colombian-Venezuelan businessman and former Minister of Industry, had been detained in Caracas in a joint operation between Venezuelan and American authorities, also pointing out the capture of businessman Raúl Gorrín. And stating that Saab could be extradited to the United States.
The versions about Saab’s alleged capture gained strength in part due to the delicate political moment that Venezuela is experiencing, after the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by US forces. After that, Saab was removed from his position in the economic cabinet by the interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
Journalists and analysts have suggested that this departure was not accidental, in the midst of internal tensions with sectors of political power. It has even been suggested that his role and position in the political framework could have changed significantly after the fall of Maduro.
Rodríguez has been linked in the past to forceful decisions against figures close to Saab. For example, in 2023 she was held responsible for the arrest of Álvaro Pulido, Saab’s main partner, which fuels the idea that, without Maduro’s political support, the businessman could have lost internal protection.
The relevance of the case
Alex Saab is not just any character in Venezuelan politics and international justice. He has been described as the man who managed key economic networks in Chavismo, including contracts with the Local Committees of Supply and Production (CLAP) and regional financial operations.
Although his charges in the United States were dismissed in 2024 after a presidential pardon that allowed him to return to Venezuela, Saab still faces investigations and trials in several countries. In Colombia, the Prosecutor’s Office is investigating him for alleged irregular financial operations through his company Shatex SA
In Italy, a six-year trial for money laundering related to the purchase of a luxury property in Rome concluded without a prison sentence, according to the defense, which said the plea deal was “a legal mechanism to avoid a lengthy trial.”
So far, no Venezuelan authority has issued a statement regarding the whereabouts of Alex Saab or Raúl Gorrín, despite the multiple versions circulating in the media and networks.
