Britain on Thursday announced the imposition of sanctions on five people for corruption, including Colombia’s Alex Saab, who was appointed the frontman of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and who has been detained in Cape Verde since June 12, 2020.

The announcement was made by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who in a statement said the five were linked to corruption cases in Iraq, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe for “depriving developing countries of vital resources”.

Those affected by the sanctions will have their assets frozen in the UK and barred from entering the country.

The statement noted that both Saab and its partner, lvaro Pulido Vargas, exploited “two public programs in Venezuela launched to supply food and affordable housing to impoverished Venezuelans.”

“Both benefited from improperly awarded contracts, in which the promised goods were delivered at exorbitant prices. His actions are causing more suffering to the Venezuelan people who are already in poverty, for their own personal enrichment,” the statement detailed.

Saab is accused by Washington of money laundering and may be the front man for the Nicolás Maduro government in Venezuela.

See also: Venezuela rejects Colombia’s accusations of alleged attack on President Ivan Duque

The Venezuelan government indicated in December that Saab was a special envoy whose function was to facilitate the acquisition of supplies of medicine, food and other goods in the face of a “criminal blockade” imposed by the United States.

In addition to Saab and Pulido, the British Government also sanctioned the former Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorín Obiang, “for his participation in misappropriating state funds in his personal bank account, corrupt recruitment agreements, and soliciting bribes to finance a lavish lifestyle that did not match his official salary. as Minister of Government”.

“The actions we are taking today are aimed at people who have spent their money at the expense of their citizens,” Raab said.

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