Saab arrest shows deepening US-Caracas cooperation

At the very beginning of 2026, few would have predicted that in just one month’s time, the FBI and Venezuela’s intelligence services would be conducting a joint operation in Caracas to capture Nicolás Maduro’s top economic frontman.

Yet that is what happened this week, as a nighttime raid led to the arrest of businessman Alex Saab — once seen by the US as a potential star witness that could unlock cases against Venezuela’s top officials — and Raúl Gorrín, known for buying Venezuela’s influential Globovisión TV in 2013 and turning it into a pro-government channel.

Saab and Gorrín are among the strongest examples of what Venezuelan observers call the “Boliburguesía” (or “Bolivarian bourgeoisie”), meaning well-connected businessmen who built or grew their fortunes by helping officials siphon state resources and launder money abroad, among other favors.