Retired Venezuelan general arrested on drug charges – Cliver Alcalá-Cordones ‘helped President Nicolás Maduro smuggle 250 TONS of cocaine into the US every year’ – DOJ
Exiled general Cliver Alcalá-Cordones, a well known critic of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has been accused of ‘helping Maduro smuggle illegal drugs into the US
The former army general was arrested Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and associated firearms by DOJ
He is accused of aiding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ship 250 tons of cocaine a year into the US every year
With a $10million bounty hanging over him, Alcalá-Crones surrendered to the Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Barranquilla, Colombia
Previously one of Maduro’s loudest critics, the former aide to late president Hugo Chavez fled to Colombia after being accused of spearheading a plot to oust the president, last year
His attorneys negotiated the surrender to US agents two days after the U.S. Justice Department indicted the Venezuela president along with four co-conspirators on narco terrorism charges
Retired Venezuelan Army [photo], Thursday was charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and associated firearms
Retired Venezuelan army general Cliver Alcalá was charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and associated firearms, according to AP.
At 5:30 p.m. on March 27, 2020, Major General Cliver Alcalá-Cordones was transferred to a plane that took off for the United States. Cordones was arrested after his lawyer contacted the US authorities to establish safe passage of the former Venezuelan officer, with a bounty of $10million hanging over him.
The indictment says Retired Venezuelan army general Cliver Alcalá helped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ship 250 tons of cocaine a year into the United States.
Cordones claims the current accusations made by the United States prosecutors have made against him are the same that were previously made at the time when he was included in the OFAC list.
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The indictment says the retired Venezuelan army, since considered an opponent of Nicolás Maduro, infact helped the president ship 250 tons of cocaine a year into the United States
Alcalá-Cordones surrendered to the Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Barranquilla, Colombia before heading for arraignment in New York.
‘We had everything ready,’ Alcalá said in social media video.
‘But circumstances that have plagued us throughout this fight against the regime generated leaks from the very heart of the opposition, the part that wants to coexist with Maduro.’
This arrest comes two days after the U.S. Justice Department indicted Maduro along with four co-conspirators on narco terrorism charges.
The former soldier was living Columbia since 2018, when he fled Venezuela after it was revealed he was trying to organize a coup to oust Maduro.
Before he surrendered to US authorities, the Justice Department had put up a $10 million reward for Alcalá-Cordones’ arrest.
The indictment states that Alcalá-Cordones was an aide to then-president Hugo Chavez in 2008, when he was ordered to organize drug shipments to rogue members of the Venezuelan army and guerrillas with the terrorist group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Wanted persons poster issued by DOJ that slapped a$10million reward for tips leading to the arrest of former Venezuela Army General Alcalá-Cordones
U.S. Justice Dept on Wednesday indicted President Nicolás Maduro along with four co-conspirators on narco-terrorism charges
After being indicted Thursday, Alcalá came out with the shocking claim of being responsible for a stockpile of U.S.-made assault weapons and military equipment seized on a highway in Colombia for what he said was a planned incursion into Venezuela to remove Maduro.
Without offering evidence, Alcalá claimed he had a contract with opposition leader Juan Guaidó and his “American advisers” to purchase the weapons.
“We had everything ready,”″ Alcalá said in a video published on social media. “But circumstances that have plagued us throughout this fight against the regime generated leaks from the very heart of the opposition, the part that wants to coexist with Maduro.”
The confusing remarks from someone who was among Maduro’s loudest critics were seized on by Venezuela’s socialist leader, who accused the DEA of being behind a plan by Alcalá to assassinate him and other political leaders.
In the video, Alcalá said: “I face the responsibilities for my actions with the truth.”
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