Former Venezuela Spymaster Extradited to US To Face Drug Trafficking Charges

By BERT HOOVER Jul 20 2023, 00:00 AM EDT

Retired Maj. Gen. Hugo Carvajal, a former Venezuela spymaster with close ties to the late leader Hugo Chávez, was extradited from Spain to New York tWednesday o face charges related to drug trafficking that date back a decade, AP reports.

Carvajal's initial appearance is scheduled for Thursday in Manhattan federal court, where his lawyer, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, confirmed he will enter a not-guilty plea.

Known by the nickname "El Pollo" (The Chicken), Carvajal served as an advisor to Hugo Chávez for over ten years. However, he eventually parted ways with Chávez's chosen successor, Nicolás Maduro, and publicly supported US-backed opposition figures.

Carvajal also released a video speech from an undisclosed location, urging fellow military personnel to rebel against their commander-in-chief during mass protests seeking to replace Maduro with Juan Guaido, who the United States recognized as Venezuela's legitimate leader due to his role as the head of the democratically elected National Assembly.

Despite Carvajal's call for revolt, the uprising did not come to fruition, and Guaido's movement waned, allowing Maduro to solidify his grip on power. In the aftermath, Carvajal discreetly fled to Spain, fearing arrest and evading capture.

Venezuela Spymaster Drug Trafficking Charge

The United States leveled drug trafficking accusations against Hugo Carvajal in 2020, along with over a dozen other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolas Maduro, according to Reuters.

Carvajal has consistently denied any involvement in supporting cocaine trafficking to the United States.

A spokesperson for the US Attorney's office in Manhattan, the entity responsible for bringing the charges, confirmed that Carvajal had been successfully extradited from Spain to face the allegations.

According to prosecutors, Carvajal orchestrated the coordination of a significant shipment of 5,600 kg (approximately 1,235 pounds) of cocaine destined for the United States via Mexico from Venezuela in 2006.

Having played a role in the unsuccessful 1992 coup attempt that propelled Chavez, Maduro's predecessor and mentor, to political prominence, Carvajal is considered one of the most influential figures from the socialist leader's rule between 1999 and 2013.

Additionally, Carvajal faces charges in Venezuela, including treason and financing terrorism, and authorities there have sought his return.

In response to Carvajal's extradition to the United States, Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's legislature aligned with President Maduro, expressed his hope that the US would reciprocate by delivering other wanted criminals to Venezuela, including Hugo Carvajal.

Venezuela Spymaster Hugo Carvajal

Hugo Carvajal, formerly a high-ranking Venezuelan official and close ally of late President Hugo Chávez, faced a series of dramatic events after expressing support for Guaido as Venezuela's acting president in February, per Al Jazeera.

His endorsement of Guaido led to Carvajal being stripped of his rank by the administration of President Nicolas Maduro.

Additionally, he called on the military to defy their orders and allow humanitarian aid shipments to enter Venezuela.

Following these actions, Carvajal embarked on a perilous journey, fleeing by boat to the Dominican Republic in March and subsequently relocating to Spain in April 2019.

US Treasury officials have long sought Carvajal due to suspicions of his involvement in supporting drug trafficking activities carried out by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group.

In a 2011 indictment filed in New York, Carvajal was accused of coordinating the transportation of more than 5.6 tons of cocaine from Venezuela to Mexico in 2006, with the ultimate destination being the United States.

Furthermore, the US alleged that Carvajal was part of a drug cartel known as Los Soles, which not only sought to enrich its members but also used cocaine as a weapon against the United States, exploiting the adverse effects of the drug on individual users.

If convicted, Carvajal could face a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison, according to statements from the US Department of Justice made in April 2019, following his arrest.

Carvajal has been in Spanish custody since his arrest in September 2021 in Madrid. He has consistently denied any involvement in supporting cocaine trafficking to the United States.

As of now, the Venezuela spymaster's US-based lawyer has not issued any immediate comment, and a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan, which is overseeing the case against Carvajal, declined to provide further information or comment.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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