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The Colombian businessman Alex Saabaccused of being the main figurehead of the Nicolás Maduro regime, was an informant for the DEA between January 2018 and May 2019. In his statements – according to the United States Attorney’s Office – he provided information on the payment to officials and officials of the governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, in Venezuela.
Product of his collaboration agreement, the businessman lost 10 million dollars. In the documentation known this Wednesday, the meetings in the United States, Colombia and other places, between Saab and several agents of the Anti-Drug Agency to whom he would have disclosed secrets of the triangulation of money from the regime.
The document states that Saab served as a “confidential source” for the DEA, handing over money as part of the deal “to face changes for his criminal conduct.”
The businessman, a native of Barranquilla, requested protection for his family nucleus (wife and children) in order to continue collaborating with the authorities delivering information regarding the “Maduro regime in Venezuela.” Saab provided information once morest the law enforcement, payment of bribes and the crimes they committed. At this point, an event recorded on September 2, 2020 is cited regarding the murder in Miami of a Venezuelan citizen accused of money laundering.
In a meeting held on June 2, 2018, Saab handed DEA agents a report in which he acknowledged the payment of bribes to officials of the Venezuelan regime, as well as other illegal contributions to receive millionaire contracts for food delivery. Due to this collaboration and their commitment, the formal collaboration agreement was signed on June 27, 2018.
In the following months, as recognized by the DEA itself, Saab carried out a “proactive cooperation” in the development of the investigation. For demonstrate their commitment presented a roadmap to stir up the profits from the illegal activities that he carried out together with his partner Álvaro Pulido Vargas, known as Germán Enrique Rubio Salas.
In August 2018, an electronic transfer was registered for an approximate value of $3.2 million. A month later he made another shipment for 3.3 million dollars. On November 1, in the same account controlled by the DEA, a transfer of 3.1 million dollars was made. And on February 5, 2019, the last transaction was presented for 2.9 million dollars.
The date of May 30, 2019 is key, since this was the limit that had been imposed by the DEA to surrender to authorities. Because he did not fulfill this part of the pact he was put an end to the agreement and was criminally charged in the Southern District of Florida.
The continuation of the trial for the crimes of money laundering once morest him was scheduled for next October 11. Álex Saab, who was captured on June 13 in Cape Verde (South Africa) and subsequently extradited to the United States, He faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
At his first hearing, on November 15, he pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. facts under investigation.
