Alex Saab shakes hands with President Nicolas Maduro (right) in 2023 [AFP Yonhap News]

A former Venezuelan official, originally a Colombian businessman and a close confidant of President Nicolas Maduro (63), has been arrested in the Venezuelan capital, Reuters reported on the 4th (local time), citing law enforcement officials.

Colombian TV channel Caracol Noticias also reported that Alex Saab (54), former Minister of Industries and head of the Investment Agency of Venezuela, was apprehended in Caracas in an operation involving U.S. and Venezuelan intelligence services (SEBIN).

His extradition to the United States is "expected in the coming days," Reuters added.

Saab was known as President Maduro's "money man."

He is considered the architect of the Maduro government's policy to evade U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.

He had been on the run since being indicted in the U.S. in 2019 on charges of money laundering related to the Maduro government, and was dramatically arrested in Cape Verde, Africa, in 2020. At the time, Saab was on his way to Iran in a private jet and was apprehended in Cape Verde while stopping for refueling.

After being transferred to the U.S. and detained in 2021, Saab was released in 2023 in exchange for the release of about ten Americans detained by the Venezuelan government. He returned to Caracas and was appointed Minister of Industries in October 2024.

However, Saab was completely sidelined under the interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez (56) after U.S. authorities apprehended him on January 3rd, coinciding with Maduro's capture.

Rodríguez, who maintained communication channels with the U.S. administration of Donald Trump, dismissed Saab during a reorganization process that merged the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Commerce.

Colombian daily El Espectador pointed out that "Saab, a former textile businessman, is considered Venezuela's secret treasurer" and "is suspected of running a food import scheme for an organization known to have laundered millions of dollars through overcharging and shell companies."

Reuters also reported that Raúl Gorrín (57), a Venezuelan lawyer and head of the Globovisión TV network, who was also sanctioned by U.S. authorities for allegedly bribing ministers in the Hugo Chávez (1954-2013) government, has also been arrested.

A decision has also been made by a local judge in Argentina to prosecute Maduro for human rights abuses, who is currently on trial in New York for charges including conspiracy to commit drug terrorism.

Argentine daily La Nación reported that a judge has ruled to request Maduro's extradition in a case concerning alleged crimes against humanity, including orders for torture of Venezuelan refugees and abuse of political opponents.

The lawsuit was filed in 2023 with the Argentine court by the "Argentine Forum for Regional Democracy" (FADER), invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction. In its complaint at the time, FADER stated, "The Maduro regime has been systematically carrying out crimes such as enforced disappearances, torture, and murder while suppressing anti-government individuals since at least 2014."