Ex-Venezuelan Intel Head Admits Guilt in Drug Trafficking
(MENAFN) A former top military intelligence officer from Venezuela has admitted guilt in a U.S. court on charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, confessing to his involvement in smuggling cocaine into American cities.
Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios, once a trusted confidant of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, was linked to the Cartel de los Soles—a trafficking organization connected to high-ranking Venezuelan military officials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
“Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios was once one of the most powerful men in Venezuela. For years, he and other officials … used cocaine as a weapon – flooding New York and other American cities with poison,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton on Wednesday.
Carvajal reportedly worked alongside Colombia’s leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), providing arms and shielding their cocaine shipments passing through Venezuela en route to the U.S., all in exchange for millions of dollars, the announcement detailed.
His unexpected guilty plea follows two years of denying the accusations and has intensified speculation that Carvajal may be cooperating with U.S. authorities to secure a lighter sentence, potentially divulging intelligence on the government of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s current president.
Five years ago, the U.S. accused Maduro of narco-terrorism and has since imposed sanctions on him and other top officials.
“After years of trying to evade law enforcement, Carvajal Barrios will now likely spend the rest of his life in federal prison. As evidenced in this case, DEA will relentlessly pursue anyone who uses violence, drugs, and intimidation to compromise the safety and security of the United States,” said Robert Murphy, acting administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
