Venezuela's Maduro Appoints Ex-Pardoned Ally Alex Saab as Industry Minister

Saab, previously charged with money laundering by the U.S., was released in a prisoner swap and now takes a key role in Venezuela's government.

Alex Saab, once accused of leading a major money laundering scheme, has been appointed by President Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela's Minister of Industry and National Production.
Saab's appointment follows his release from U.S. custody last December, part of a prisoner swap involving 10 Americans and a fugitive contractor.
The U.S. had charged Saab with laundering $350 million through Venezuelan state contracts, allegedly exploiting the country's subsidized food program.
Maduro's government claims Saab was a special envoy with diplomatic immunity at the time of his arrest in 2020, during a refueling stop en route to Iran.
The U.S. briefly suspended sanctions on Venezuela following the prisoner swap, but reimposed them after disputed elections and unmet democratic commitments.