The US has released a close ally of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in exchange for 10 Americans jailed in the Latin American country, as well as the return of convicted Malaysian defence contractor Leonard Francis, also known as Fat Leonard.
Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman and Maduro’s main dealmaker, was extradited to the US in 2021 after being charged with transferring $350mn from Venezuela as part of a scheme to bribe its government officials.
In return, Venezuela will release 10 Americans, including six who were classified as wrongfully detained. Caracas also agreed to free 20 Venezuelan political prisoners, officials said.