U.S. reaches a deal with Venezuela to release an ally of President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for 10 jailed Americans – By Abigail Williams and Rebecca Shabad (NBC News) / Dec 20, 2023
The Maduro ally, Alex Saab, is a Colombian businessman who was arrested in 2020 for his alleged role in a money laundering scheme.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. has reached a deal with the Venezuelan government to release an ally of President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for freeing 10 jailed Americans and a group of Venezuelan political prisoners, senior Biden administration officials said Wednesday.
The Maduro ally, Alex Saab, is a Colombian businessman who was arrested in 2020 for his alleged role in a money laundering scheme involving the bribery of Venezuelan government officials and $350 million in Venezuelan assets.
Among the Americans, the State Department said there are six who were being wrongfully detained including Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella and Savoi Wright. A senior administration official added, “At this time we are not naming any additional individuals out of consideration for their privacy.”
