Colombian-Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab, regarded for years as the main financial frontman of former president Nicolás Maduro, appeared on Monday before a federal court in Miami, where he was formally charged with one count of money laundering linked to a bribery scheme used to enrich himself through contracts of Venezuela's state food import program. The hearing took place two days after acting President Delcy Rodríguez handed him over to the United States in what the Venezuelan government described as a deportation but which, in legal terms, amounts to an extradition.

“La medida de deportación fue adoptada tomando en consideración que el referido ciudadano colombiano se encuentra incurso en la comisión de diversos delitos en los Estados Unidos…

El Servicio de Migración de Venezuela informó sobre la deportación a través de un comunicado.