United States has exchanged Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, for ten American citizens and a fugitive from Venezuelan prisons, nicknamed "Fat Leonard."

The exchange took place within the framework of a large-scale deal between the United States and Venezuela.

US President Joe Biden had to make an "extremely difficult decision" to release Maduro's former confidant, Alex Saab, reports AFP, citing a senior American official.

In the US, Saab was accused of money laundering for Caracas, VOA reports.