Hugo Carvajal, a former head of Venezuela’s army intelligence, entered a not-guilty plea to drug trafficking fees introduced by the US on Thursday after his extradition from Spain, after Washington wished to carry a trial for him within the US.
Following his extradition from Spain on Wednesday, the 63-year-old arrived within the US and entered the plea throughout a listening to earlier than US Justice of the Peace Choose Stewart Aaron in Manhattan federal court docket.
His arrest was mandated by the court docket, and his subsequent look is about for July 25.
Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, the defence legal professional for Carvajal, stated he “would submit an software for his consumer to be launched on bail at a later date” and asserted that his consumer was “categorically harmless” of the accusations.
“Normal Carvajal seems to be ahead to combating these outrageous fees in court docket earlier than an unbiased American jury,” Margulis-Ohnuma instructed journalists.
In response to federal prosecutors, Carvajal — who was a detailed aide to President Hugo Chavez — in 2006 coordinated the cargo of 5,600 kg (1,235 kilos) of cocaine to Mexico from Venezuela which was certain for the US.
Nicknamed ‘El Pollo’, the rooster, Carvajal took half within the failed 1992 coup that lifted Chavez to political prominence and is taken into account one of the {powerful} figures of the socialist chief’s 1999-2013 rule.
Relations between Washington and Caracas deteriorated when Chavez and his successor, incumbent President Nicolas Maduro got here to energy.
Dozens of Venezuelan army leaders, politicians and businessmen have been charged by the US with drug trafficking and malpractices.
Carvajal was first arrested in 2014 in Aruba, a semi-autonomous Dutch Caribbean island the place Venezuela had been making an attempt to accredit him as consul.
He was launched and returned to Venezuela after the Netherlands authorities dominated he had diplomatic immunity, which was considered disappointing and disturbing by US State Division.
In 2017, Hugo Carvajal parted methods with Maduro by opposing the creation of an omnipotent legislature.
In 2019, after Washington recognised an opposition chief as Venezuela’s legit ruler — in a failed try to oust Maduro — Carvajal launched a video urging the army to facilitate the “return to democracy.”
Later, he was detained in Spain on US drug fees later that very same 12 months however went into hiding after a court docket initially authorised his extradition. He was re-arrested in 2021.