The Venezuelan government announced on Saturday the deportation of Alex Saab, a close associate of President Nicolás Maduro, amid multiple criminal investigations pending against him in the United States. This move represents a significant shift for Saab, who was pardoned by former U.S. President Joe Biden less than three years ago as part of a prisoner exchange.

Saab, a Colombian-born businessman, has long been considered a key intermediary for Maduro by U.S. authorities, who have characterized him as the president’s “bag man.” After a high-profile arrest in 2020, Maduro’s government mounted extensive efforts to repatriate Saab, including legal challenges and diplomatic appeals. Saab was detained again in January 2024 following a U.S. military operation, and he currently remains at the center of drug trafficking charges filed in Manhattan.

The Venezuelan immigration authority’s statement on Saturday did not specify the destination of Saab’s deportation but indicated the decision was driven by ongoing criminal investigations in the United States. The agency referred to Saab only as a “Colombian citizen,” which aligns with Venezuelan law that bars the extradition of its own nationals. This designation counters prior claims by the Venezuelan government that Saab held Venezuelan citizenship.

In previous legal proceedings, Venezuelan officials submitted what they asserted was Saab’s Venezuelan passport to U.S. courts. At the time, then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, now acting President, maintained that Saab was an innocent Venezuelan diplomat who had been unlawfully detained while engaged in a humanitarian mission to Iran. Rodríguez framed his arrest as part of an “immoral, imperial blockade” imposed by the United States.

Saab’s current deportation raises questions about potential cooperation with U.S. authorities, including the possibility that he may testify against Maduro, who is facing serious drug-related charges in the U.S. amid ongoing legal scrutiny. The latest developments highlight the complex and contentious legal battles involving Venezuelan officials and their connections to international criminal investigations.