Venezuela releases two jailed U.S. citizens following talks with delegation

Venezuela released two jailed U.S. citizens on Tuesday in an apparent goodwill gesture toward the Biden administration following a visit to Caracas by a high-level U.S. delegation. One of the freed prisoners was Gustavo Cardenas, among six Citgo oil executives arrested in 2017 and convicted on charges the U.S. government says were fabricated. The other… Read More Venezuela releases two jailed U.S. citizens following talks with delegation

Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab pleads not guilty to money laundering charge

Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has pleaded not guilty to a U.S. charge of conspiring to launder money, according to a court document filed on Monday, in a case that has strained already frayed relations between Washington and Caracas. U.S. prosecutors accuse Saab, a Colombia-born businessman and dealmaker for Maduro’s government,… Read More Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab pleads not guilty to money laundering charge

Spanish court approves U.S. extradition request of former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal

Spain’s High Court on Wednesday agreed to extradite former Venezuelan spymaster Hugo Carvajal to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking charges, after he was denied asylum in Spain, the court said in a statement. His lawyer Nielson Vilela said he did not expect an immediate extradition as Carvajal was a witness in other… Read More Spanish court approves U.S. extradition request of former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal

U.S. judge sets arraignment date for Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab on money laundering charges

A U.S. judge on Monday set a November 1 arraignment date for Alex Saab, a businessman accused of laundering money on behalf of Venezuela’s government, in a case that pits the United States against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. U.S. prosecutors in 2019 charged Saab in connection with a bribery scheme linked to Venezuela’s… Read More U.S. judge sets arraignment date for Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab on money laundering charges

Cape Verde’s top court approves U.S. extradition request of Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab

Cape Verde’s highest court ruled on Tuesday that Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman who is wanted by U.S. authorities on charges of laundering money on behalf of Venezuela’s government, should be extradited to the United States. Saab, who is close to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was detained in Cape Verde in June 2020 when his… Read More Cape Verde’s top court approves U.S. extradition request of Venezuelan envoy Alex Saab

U.S. imposes sanctions on two Venezuelan officials over trial of former Citgo executives

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a Venezuelan judge and a prosecutor over their roles in the trial of six former executives of U.S. refiner Citgo sentenced to prison by a Venezuelan court last month. The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it blacklisted the Supreme Court judge who presided over the… Read More U.S. imposes sanctions on two Venezuelan officials over trial of former Citgo executives

U.S. imposes sanctions on Venezuelan president, Iranian defense ministry

The United States on Monday slapped new sanctions on the Iranian defense ministry and others involved in Iran’s nuclear and weapons program to support its assertion that all U.N. sanctions against Tehran are now restored, a move disputed by key European allies as well as U.S. adversaries such as Russia and China. Secretary of State… Read More U.S. imposes sanctions on Venezuelan president, Iranian defense ministry

U.S. seizes four Iranian fuel shipments bound for Venezuela

The United States said on Friday it had confiscated four Iranian fuel shipments that had been bound for Venezuela, disrupting a key supply line for both Tehran and Caracas as they defied U.S. sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran should not be sending cargoes to Venezuela and added that the seized shipments were bound… Read More U.S. seizes four Iranian fuel shipments bound for Venezuela