El Pollo: Ex-Venezuela Spy Chief Guilty of Drug Trafficking & Narco-Terrorism
- MIAMI-Hugo Carvajal, the former Venezuelan spymaster once close to Hugo Chávez, pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court.
- Carvajal, a retired major general nicknamed "El Pollo," was extradited from Spain in 2023 after evading U.S.
- The indictment accuses Carvajal of leading a cartel of Venezuelan military officers who conspired with Colombian guerrillas to flood the U.S.
Hugo Carvajal, the ex-Venezuelan spy chief known as “El Pollo”, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. This pivotal moment in the fight against narco-terrorism highlights a major victory for U.S. law enforcement. Facing a minimum of 50 years in prison,Carvajal’s confession could signal his cooperation with the U.S. government, possibly revealing crucial details about Venezuelan gang involvement. The charges stem from his alleged leadership of a cartel that conspired to flood the U.S.with cocaine. Explore the complex web of political intrigue and illicit activity with News Directory 3. Discover what’s next for the former spymaster and the implications of his plea.
Ex-Venezuelan Spymaster Carvajal Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking
MIAMI-Hugo Carvajal, the former Venezuelan spymaster once close to Hugo Chávez, pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court. The plea came just before his trial was set to begin.
Carvajal, a retired major general nicknamed ”El Pollo,” was extradited from Spain in 2023 after evading U.S. law enforcement for over a decade. This included a previous arrest in Aruba while serving as a diplomat for Nicolás Maduro‘s government.
The indictment accuses Carvajal of leading a cartel of Venezuelan military officers who conspired with Colombian guerrillas to flood the U.S. with cocaine. He pleaded guilty to all four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism.
Prosecutors indicated that federal sentencing guidelines suggest a minimum of 50 years in prison for Carvajal, 65. once an advisor to Chávez, Carvajal later broke with Maduro and supported the U.S.-backed opposition.
Carvajal, from an undisclosed location, urged his former military colleagues to rebel