US prosecutors open new criminal investigation into Nicolas Maduro and Alex Saab

Federal prosecutors in the United States have opened a new criminal investigation into former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is already facing charges related to drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.

CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that US authorities are concerned the existing charges alone may not be sufficient to secure a conviction.

Federal prosecutors in Miami were instructed to initiate a new criminal probe targeting Maduro, who is currently in custody.

Sources said the order to prepare a new criminal case in Miami was issued by US Department of Justice leadership after Maduro was detained under an indictment prepared in New York.

The legal review, which effectively began around March, is being led by prosecutor Michael Berger together with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division.

CBS News reported that the new investigation is centered on billionaire businessman Alex Saab, a close associate of Maduro.

Saab is accused of laundering money through Venezuela’s state-run food distribution program.

The case is based on a 2021 court filing in which Saab was identified as an unnamed co-conspirator. Prosecutors believe part of Maduro’s financial assets were directly controlled by Saab.

Sources said officials at the US Department of Justice and the White House have privately expressed frustration that the existing case against Maduro does not include money laundering charges.

The current indictment prepared by a federal court in New York accuses the former Venezuelan leader of narcoterrorism, importing cocaine into the United States, and possessing machine guns.

Alex Saab, who is at the center of the allegations, was deported to the United States in recent days after spending a period in detention.

In a statement on the matter, Venezuela’s immigration agency said the deportation decision involving the Colombian national was taken after authorities determined that he had been involved in various crimes in the United States.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were transported to US territory after what was described as a military operation named “Absolute Determination” carried out by US armed forces on the night of Jan. 3.

Investigators subsequently accused the couple of narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons possession.

Authorities in the South American republic characterized the incident as military aggression and a direct military attack. According to figures released by Venezuelan officials, 100 people were killed during the military activity that took place in early January.

Since the beginning of the year, two separate hearings related to the Maduro case have been held before US judicial authorities, in January and March.

Representing the Venezuelan side, politician Nicolas Maduro told the court he was innocent of all charges brought against him.