Venezuela Ex-Spy Chief Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

Hugo Carvajal, the former head of Venezuelan military intelligence and close aide to the late President Hugo Chávez, pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges just before his trial was set to begin. Carvajal, known as 'El Pollo,' admitted to leading a cartel of senior Venezuelan military officials that worked with Colombian guerrillas to traffic cocaine into the United States. He faces a mandatory minimum of 50 years up to life in prison. Carvajal was extradited from Spain in 2023 after more than a decade evading U.S. authorities. His plea deal leaves open the possibility of cooperation with law enforcement, potentially providing information on criminal activities involving Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. prosecutors view the case as a major example of high-level state involvement in international drug trafficking.