MIAMI – A new US-Venezuela prisoner swap was ongoing on Wednesday between Nicolas Maduro, who is wanted for narcotrafficking in the U.S., and President Joe Biden’s administration.
A previous US-Venezuela prisoner swap traded a group of Citgo executives based in Houston for Maduro’s nephews who were also accused of narcotrafficking.
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Forbes reported on Tuesday that the Venezuelan government had released Luke Denman and Airan Berry, two retired Green Berets who Venezuelans arrested in 2019 over an alleged plot to kill Maduro.
The Venezuelan government committed to releasing up to 36 prisoners, including 12 U.S. citizens, a high-level Venezuelan source told Reuters on Wednesday.
The swap also includes a case in Miami federal court. Colombian businessman Alex Saab, who was arrested in 2020 while traveling as an envoy of Venezuela, was released, according to The Associated Press.
Federal prosecutors charged Saab with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a $350 million bribery scheme involving a Venezuelan government housing program.
Court records show sealed documents were filed in his federal case on Monday and Friday. The Saab case was associated with the conviction of Miami-based U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agent John Costanzo Jr., and Manny Recio, a retired DEA supervisor.
Prominent cases of U.S. citizens held prisoner in Venezuela include Savoi Wright, a businessman from California arrested in October, and
Both Biden and Maduro are campaigning for re-election. Maduro’s administration continues to block his opponent María Corina Machado from running.
Local 10 News Reporter Cody Weddle contributed to this report.