Federal prosecutors in Miami are set to open a new criminal investigation targeting detained former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This move follows concerns that the pending prosecution against him might be weak. The new probe is prompted by Alex Saab, a close associate of Maduro and former minister of industry, who was recently deported from Venezuela and indicted for his alleged involvement in a money-laundering scheme tied to a public welfare food program.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended by U.S. forces on Venezuelan soil in early January and transported to New York City to face charges of narco-trafficking and firearms possession. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The new criminal case was officially opened in March, with respected Miami-based prosecutor Michael Berger overseeing the investigation along with agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. The indictment, which came into effect in January, alleges that Maduro facilitated drug traffickers’ operations by providing them diplomatic passports and enabling planes to repatriate drug proceeds.
The new indictment against Saab charges him with money laundering involving a Venezuelan-controlled food program known as CLAP. Despite federal prosecutors’ significant interest in linking Venezuelan leaders to financial crimes in the U.S., efforts have been hampered by challenges tracing accounts directly to these individuals.
One concern among Justice Department and White House officials is the lack of any money-laundering charges in the pending indictment against Maduro, which alleges he facilitated the drug trade through diplomatic cover. However, analysts note that much of the cocaine entering the U.S. bypasses Venezuela, with most coming from Colombia. Some experts have doubts about the strength of the New York case portraying Maduro as a central figure in facilitating the drug trade.