After years of evading justice, former Venezuelan military intelligence head Hugo Carvajal has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in the US. His cooperation hints at revelations about the connections between Venezuela's leadership and drug cartels.
Venezuelan Ex-Spy Chief's Guilty Plea Unlocks Secrets of the Cartel de Los Soles
Venezuelan Ex-Spy Chief's Guilty Plea Unlocks Secrets of the Cartel de Los Soles
Hugo Carvajal's plea reveals the dark connections between Venezuela's military and drug trafficking networks.
In a significant turn of events, Hugo Carvajal, once head of Venezuela's military intelligence and a prominent figure under the late President Hugo Chávez, has pleaded guilty to charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in a US court. The 65-year-old, affectionately dubbed "El Pollo" or The Chicken, was apprehended in Madrid after years of evading authorities, even attempting to conceal his identity with a disguise.
Carvajal's guilty plea marks an astonishing fall from grace for the once-feared spymaster, who is said to have been a vital player in the notorious Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns), comprised of high-ranking military officials. The indictment claims that for years, Carvajal and his associates utilized cocaine as a means of warfare, inundating American cities with illicit drugs while collaborating with Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces to safeguard cocaine shipments.
Reports indicate that this sudden change of demeanor from Carvajal, who previously denied the charges, might suggest he is negotiating a lighter sentence in exchange for potentially explosive testimony regarding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government. The US has accused Maduro of "narco-terrorism" and has placed sanctions on him and his closest advisors.
Carvajal's relationship with Maduro deteriorated sharply after he voiced support for the opposition during anti-government protests in 2017 and later urged military allegiance to Juan Guaidó’s efforts to topple Maduro in 2019. Following a fallout, the ex-spy chief fled to Spain, where he would ultimately be arrested and extradited to the US.
As the case unfolds, the potential implications of Carvajal’s insights into state corruptions and strategic partnerships could provide an intriguing and troubling perspective into Venezuela’s drug trade operations and the intricate interplay between the military and criminal enterprises.
