The information regarding a joint operation to capture businessmen Alex Saab and Raúl Gorrín remains unconfirmed. It relies on unverifiable anonymous sources, while being publicly denied and attributed. Moreover, it describes an expedited extradition procedure that is legally unfeasible under the Venezuelan Constitution, which prohibits the extradition of nationals. The official silence reinforces its status as an unverified rumor.
Written by: La Tabla/Data Journalism Platform 6 FEB 2026
The narrative surrounding a binational capture of businessmen Alex Saab and Raúl Gorrín is based solely on unverifiable anonymous sources, and is publicly and categorically denied by their defenders. It outlines a judicially unfeasible expedited extradition process for a Venezuelan national, all amid a revealing official silence from both governments.
In the early hours of Wednesday, various media outlets, mainly from Colombia, reported the capture of businessmen Alex Saab and Raúl Gorrín in Caracas, as part of an alleged joint operation between Venezuelan SEBIN and the U.S. FBI, aiming to extradite them to the United States.
However, after more than 72 hours, this information remains unconfirmed officially and faces categorical public denials. An analysis shows serious inconsistencies that undermine its credibility.
The information has been constructed on opaque and untraceable sources. Outlets like Caracol Radio and Reuters generically cited “intelligence sources” or “a U.S. official,” without the capability to verify their identity or competence.
In sharp contrast, the denial comes from fully identified sources: lawyer Luigi Giuliano stated that Saab is “calm in Caracas,” and a representative of Gorrín indicated he has been released.
Legally, the core of the narrative is unsubstantiated. The Venezuelan Constitution (Art. 69) explicitly prohibits the extradition of nationals, a status Alex Saab has held since 2020. Furthermore, any extradition process is a lengthy judicial procedure before the Supreme Court, not a discretionary and expedited act.
The narrative of an “extradition in the coming days” highlights a profound misunderstanding of the Venezuelan legal system.
The official silence from all involved governments speaks volumes. Neither the Venezuelan Attorney General, the U.S. Department of Justice, nor the White House have confirmed the events. The FBI merely stated “no comments.” This muteness, in light of an event that would represent a historic turn in bilateral cooperation, further undermines the rumor’s credibility.
This leak emerges in a specific political context, weeks after Nicolás Maduro’s capture, and is framed by certain media as part of an internal conflict narrative within Chavismo.
While it is verifiable that interim president Delcy Rodríguez removed Saab from his ministerial role, there is no public evidence linking that administrative decision to a hypothetical joint arrest order with the FBI, a collaboration that appears institutionally implausible given the historical distrust among the mentioned agencies.
In conclusion, the alleged joint operation should be regarded as unconfirmed and highly politicized information. It is based on anonymity, outlines an unfeasible procedure, and is denied by public sources. Until there is an official confirmation with evidence, its status is that of an instrumental rumor with serious factual and legal deficiencies.