The Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Colombia announced yesterday morning that it would seize and freeze seven properties belonging to Alex Saab. Located in Barranquilla (Saab’s former base before he became a billionaire thanks to Chávez), the lot is valued at around $9.7 million (USD). Saab is accused by the Colombian AG of money laundering, extortion, fraud, illicit enrichment, and fictitious imports/exports, as well as being an associate of Nicolás Maduro. Allegedly at Colombia’s request, INTERPOL issued a blue notice against Saab.
These charges are separate from similar ones filed last year against Saab by the Italian Guardia di Finanza and the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would bring the alleged “bankruptcy” of Libre Abordo to the International Criminal Court.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Treasury was preparing additional sanctions against Venezuela, which will once again specifically target Saab. This report adds to the recent news published on this site last Friday regarding Saab’s energy operations with PDVSA through Libre Abordo, Schlager Business Group, Proton Sociedad Limitada, and Delta Limited Liability Co.
This adds to similar law enforcement actions against Saab and his shell company Libre Abordo, carried out by Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit in coordination with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Treasury’s OFAC.
This is indeed very good news. For a long time, we have reflected on the lack of action from Colombian law enforcement against Saab, who is, after all, a Colombian citizen. Finally, the government of Iván Duque is taking steps to curb the operations of this thug.