The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro plans to release up to 36 people, including 12 Americans, in exchange for the release by the U.S. government of a Maduro ally, a high-level Venezuelan source said on Wednesday, APA reports citing Reuters.
The Maduro ally is Colombian businessman Alex Saab, the source said. U.S. prosecutors have accused Saab of siphoning off some $350 million from Venezuela via the U.S. in a scheme that involved bribing Venezuelan government officials. He denies the charge.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden relaxed sanctions on Venezuela in October in response to an agreement by the government to hold fair elections in 2024.
But the White House had said in recent weeks it was prepared to "pause" sanctions relief unless there was progress on prisoner releases.
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