Who is Alejandro Betancourt, the colourful oil baron behind US-Venezuela oil deal?

According to the Washington Post, US authorities urged Switzerland to drop its extradition request against the businessman before the British courts.

The request was granted by the Swiss authorities, and last May a London court lifted the travel ban placed upon him.

“Switzerland did not present the evidence requested by the English judges to support its extradition request, and therefore the travel ban was lifted,” Betancourt’s lawyer told BBC News Mundo, while acknowledging this does not necessarily mean the end of the Swiss investigations.

According to Axios, in the first minutes after the military operation on 3 January that concluded with US forces seizing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Betancourt spoke with then-Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez and convinced her to speak with Rubio.

This version was corroborated by his lawyer.

“He acted as an intermediary,” said Sale. “He had nothing to do with Maduro’s departure, but since he had everyone’s trust, he became an intermediary.”

On Wednesday, Delcy Rodríguez, now interim president of Venezuela, defended Betancourt, saying he has no pending cases in that country or the US.

“Often a person is judged in the media before in the courts,” she said in the oil baron’s defence.

For those who have followed Betancourt’s career for years, one thing is clear.

“He’s very skillful,” Boyd concluded.

“He always manages to be where he needs to be to avoid problems and make money.”