Hugo Carvajal, a former top intelligence official under the Maduro regime, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in a U.S. federal court. He faces sentencing on October 29 and has agreed to cooperate with U.S. authorities. Once a powerful ally of the Chavez government, Carvajal's political affiliation shifted, particularly during anti-government protests in 2017, when he distanced himself from Maduro. His past involvement in drug trafficking and links to Colombian guerrilla groups exemplify the serious threat of foreign officials contributing to drug-related violence in the United States.
"The deeply troubling reality is that there are powerful foreign government officials who conspire to flood the United States with drugs that kill and debilitate," said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.
Carvajal, who has wielded considerable power as the head of Military Intelligence Directorate under Hugo Chavez, now faces a potential life sentence for serious drug-related crimes.
Once a trusted insider at the presidential palace, Carvajal's militant enthusiasm began to wane after Chavez's death and Maduro's rise to power, reflecting a significant political shift.
During the anti-government protests in Venezuela in 2017, Carvajal permanently broke with his former allies, blaming Maduro for the deaths of hundreds of student protesters.
Collection
[
|
...
]