Venezuela | Alex Saab | Nicolás Maduro | How could Chavismo affect the extradition of the main ringleader of the Maduro regime? | Cape Verde | United States WORLD

This week the Constitutional Court of Cape Verde ended a long legal battle to define whether Alex Saab, A 49 – year – old Colombian noted to be the main ringleader of Nicolás Maduro, Would be extradited or not to the United States to answer for the money laundering charges that weigh on him since 2019.

The highest instance “confirmed the legal authorization to extradite the defendant to the United States,” in response to an appeal filed by the defendant’s team assuring that his extradition, approved on August 13 by the Court itself, was unconstitutional.

LEE ALSO: Cape Verde Constitutional Court authorizes extradition to the United States of Alex Saab, alleged major ringleader of Maduro

Saab is set to divert $ 350 million from Venezuela to its overseas accounts to evade international sanctions weighing on the Chavista regime and import food, oil, coal, construction materials and mining into the country.

Former Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega has singled him out as “the regime’s main ringleader” of Maduro and his family, according to a DW article. This would explain the tireless efforts of Chavismo to prevent his extradition, the same ones that include the hiring of former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón to head his defense, the nationalization of Saab and his rise as Venezuelan ambassador to the African Union. after his arrest on June 12, 2020.

“My illegal detention has a totally political motivation and it is pathetic that the Cape Verdean government has bent its knees against the United States,” Saab said in an interview with EFE in early March.

Not so high expectations

With extradition already defined the main question that arises is what can be expected to be obtained from Saab before American justice.

“The first is that it is suspected that Saab must know about the mechanisms that Maduro has used to benefit internationally, despite the sanctions that exist on Venezuela. The second is to study the inappropriate use of this money to often buy expired food. Of course, one thing that should be of great interest to Americans is how this network works: who are the suppliers and who are involved in this chain of trade that goes against the sanctions imposed by the international community, “he explains to the Trade the Venezuelan political scientist and consultant in matters of public opinion José Vicente Carrasquero.

However, the expert says that no greater effects on the Maduro regime should be expected with the extradition of Saab, because it is not the first case of this type to occur in recent years.

“I think people here are getting a lot of expectations. We have to remember that a few years ago Maduro’s nephews were captured for drug trafficking, but that didn’t lead to Maduro or his wife being involved with drug mechanisms. In fact, expectations are too high, he is not the first iron or corrupt to fall. It will not be an issue that affects Venezuelan politics. , if checked, is not good for the image of the regime, “he said.

Carrasquero refers to the capture of Francisco Flors de Freitas and Efraïm Antonio Camp Flors, nephews of First Lady Cilia Flors arrested by the DEA in Haiti in November 2015 and transferred to the United States, where they were sentenced to 18 years imprisoned by a New York court.

LEE ALSO: Venezuelan opposition points to Maduro government’s millionaire spending in defense of Saab

International consequences?

The Venezuelan opposition and the Chavista regime set up a new round of talks in Mexico this year to seek a way out of the crisis in the South American country and, at the behest of opponents, try to get “clean and fair” presidential elections. .

One of the biggest doubts raised by the decision to extradite Saab is the repercussions that this action could have on the official’s willingness to hold talks with the opposition.

“I don’t really see why (the dialogue would be broken). After all, the opposition has no chance of offering the Saab exchange. It’s an issue that is beyond the reach of the negotiating table. If the government wanted to stop the table, it would be more retaliation against the United States and the other countries that have sanctioned it than against the opposition. financial trade that they are interested in protecting.For the opposition, extradition is a small victory, a feeling that at least someone is paying for everything that is happening to them.Hence this will cause Maduro to fall … Enough is already known about Maduro, there is a reward of 15 million dollars “, Says Carrasquero.

Among the maneuvers tried by Chavismo to curb Saab’s extradition to the United States was the invocation of its political allies to condemn the procedure. Russia, one of its main guarantors, warned that extradition could have serious consequences for international diplomacy.

In this regard, Carrasquero believes that the small African nation would have the support of the United States in the face of retaliation and that the Moscow ruling would not go any further.

“The retaliation they could take would be against Cape Verde, it’s a very small country that could be easily subdued by the great powers. But I don’t think Russia will go beyond a statement, it’s a tiny state to worry about. “Besides, I think Cape Verde will have the protection of the United States, diplomatically this must have been discussed.”, Delimita.

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