Breaking: FBI Captures Maduro Allies Alex Saab and Raúl Gorrín in Bold Raid
By HotspotNews, February 4, 2026
In a stunning development that could shake the foundations of Venezuela’s political landscape, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly captured two high-profile figures long associated with former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: Alex Saab and Raúl Gorrín. The arrests, confirmed through multiple sources including Colombian media outlet Caracol Radio and Venezuelan journalists, occurred in the early hours of February 4, 2026, in Caracas. This operation, described as a joint effort between the FBI and Venezuela’s SEBIN intelligence agency, marks a significant escalation in international efforts to dismantle networks of corruption tied to the Maduro regime.
The news broke via a post on X (formerly Twitter) from the account @VVperiodistas_, citing Caracol Radio’s exclusive report. According to eyewitness accounts and follow-up posts, the raid took place around 2:30 a.m. local time, with the detainees allegedly set for swift extradition to the United States. While details remain fluid—this is labeled as “noticia en desarrollo” (developing news)—the captures have sparked celebrations among opposition supporters and panic within remnants of the Chavismo movement.
### Who Are Alex Saab and Raúl Gorrín? Their Roles and Responsibilities
Alex Saab, a Colombian-Venezuelan businessman born in 1971, rose to prominence as a key facilitator for the Maduro government. Often labeled Maduro’s “testaferro” (frontman), Saab played a central role in Venezuela’s economic operations during the country’s deepening crisis. He was instrumental in establishing and managing the Local Committees for Supply and Production (CLAP) program, a subsidized food distribution initiative launched in 2016 to address widespread shortages. Through a network of shell companies, Saab handled multimillion-dollar contracts for importing food, housing materials, oil, and even gold exports. His responsibilities extended to negotiating deals with international partners in countries like Mexico, Turkey, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, often bypassing U.S. sanctions.
Saab’s influence grew after his 2011 involvement in affordable housing projects under Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez. By 2015, his company Trenaco secured a $4.5 billion contract with state oil giant Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) for energy-related ventures. Venezuelan officials portrayed him as a vital “special envoy” for humanitarian aid, but critics argue he exploited these roles to enrich himself and the regime, turning public programs into personal profit machines.
Raúl Gorrín, a 56-year-old Venezuelan media mogul, is best known as the owner of Globovisión, one of Venezuela’s largest television networks. Acquired in 2013, the station shifted from critical opposition coverage to pro-government propaganda under his leadership, earning him the moniker “the king of censorship.” Beyond media, Gorrín’s responsibilities included managing vast financial operations tied to Venezuela’s currency exchange system. He allegedly orchestrated deals with PDVSA and the Office of the National Treasury (ONT), leveraging his connections to secure favorable foreign currency loans and exchanges.
Gorrín’s empire extended into insurance, real estate, and banking, including the acquisition of Banco Peravia in the Dominican Republic, which authorities claim was used as a laundering hub. His role as a regime insider made him a bridge between Maduro’s inner circle and international finance, often facilitating deals that propped up the government’s faltering economy.
### The Accusations: Corruption, Bribery, and Money Laundering
Both men face severe accusations from U.S. authorities, stemming from investigations dating back over a decade. These charges paint a picture of systemic corruption that siphoned billions from Venezuela’s coffers amid hyperinflation and humanitarian collapse.
For Alex Saab, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted him in 2019 on eight counts of money laundering. Prosecutors allege he and his partner, Álvaro Pulido Vargas, bribed Venezuelan officials to secure overvalued contracts, diverting at least $350 million through U.S. banks to overseas accounts. The scheme exploited Venezuela’s dual exchange rate system: Saab submitted fraudulent import documents for goods never delivered, profiting from the gap between official and black-market rates. The CLAP program, meant to feed starving Venezuelans, became a focal point—Saab reportedly imported substandard food at inflated prices, pocketing the difference while the regime used it for political control.
Saab was previously arrested in Cape Verde in 2020, extradited to the U.S. in 2021, and released in a 2023 prisoner swap. Colombian authorities have also charged him with illicit enrichment and fictitious exports related to his Shatex company, estimating laundered sums at $25 million between 2004 and 2011. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in 2019 for looting CLAP funds, accusing him of bribing Maduro’s stepsons.
Raúl Gorrín’s legal troubles are equally damning. Indicted in the U.S. Southern District of Florida in 2018, 2020, and most recently in 2024, he faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Authorities claim Gorrín paid over $160 million in bribes to high-level officials, including former National Treasurers Alejandro Andrade and Claudia Díaz, to access PDVSA’s foreign currency loans. This generated $1.2 billion in illicit proceeds from 2014 to 2018, laundered through shell companies, Swiss banks, and U.S. accounts.
Gorrín allegedly used the funds to buy luxury assets like yachts, private jets, champion horses, and South Florida real estate. The U.S. Treasury designated him in 2019 for rigging currency exchanges, estimating his schemes netted over $2.4 billion. He’s also accused of embezzling from PDVSA and using Globovisión to shield the regime from scrutiny. Like Saab, Gorrín has been a fugitive, evading capture until this raid.
These accusations align with broader probes into Venezuelan corruption, including the Lava Jato scandal’s offshoots, where PDVSA bribes intersected with international firms.
### Potential Ties to Brazil’s Lula: What Could They Reveal?
The question of whether Saab or Gorrín hold information implicating Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remains speculative, with no direct evidence emerging from public records or ongoing investigations. Lula, a longtime ally of Maduro and the broader Latin American left, has condemned U.S. operations against Venezuelan figures, including past criticisms of Saab’s 2020 arrest. However, connections appear indirect at best.
Saab’s global dealings included food imports that occasionally touched Brazilian markets through regional trade, but no accusations link him directly to Lula or Brazilian corruption scandals like Petrobras (tied to PDVSA in some bribery cases). Gorrín’s schemes focused on Venezuelan currency and media, with his international laundering potentially overlapping South American networks, but again, no Lula-specific ties surface.
If extradited and cooperating with U.S. prosecutors, both men could provide insights into Maduro’s alliances, including diplomatic and economic support from Brazil under Lula. Former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal, extradited in 2021, has shared details on Chavismo’s underbelly—Saab and Gorrín might do the same, potentially exposing funding flows or political favors. For now, though, any Lula connection is conjecture, fueled by the ideological bonds between the two leaders rather than concrete proof.
### Implications for Venezuela and Beyond
This capture could signal the endgame for Maduro-era holdouts, with figures like Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino reportedly on edge. It underscores the U.S.’s relentless pursuit of sanctioned individuals, even in hostile territory. As extradition looms, expect more revelations that could reshape regional politics.
Hotspotorlando News will continue monitoring this developing story. Stay tuned for updates.