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Will Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal become a star witness in the trial against Maduro?

From El Nacional · (7m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal, former Venezuelan military intelligence chief, has reportedly declared himself guilty of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in the US.
  • Carvajal allegedly sent a letter to then-President Donald Trump offering to become an informant in the case against Nicolás Maduro, alleging a multi-layered conspiracy including election manipulation and collaboration with the Tren de Aragua gang.
  • His potential cooperation could make him a key witness for the prosecution, and his sentencing hearing has been postponed, suggesting a possible deal with authorities.

The potential for Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal, a former high-ranking Venezuelan intelligence official, to become a star witness against Nicolás Maduro in the United States represents a significant development in the ongoing efforts to hold the Venezuelan leadership accountable. Carvajal's reported guilty plea to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, coupled with his alleged letter to former President Donald Trump, signals a dramatic shift in his legal standing and his willingness to cooperate with U.S. authorities.

El exjefe de inteligencia militar de Venezuela se declaró culpable en 2025 de cargos de narcotráfico y narcoterrorismo.

Reporting on Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal's guilty plea.

From a Venezuelan perspective, Carvajal's accusations, if substantiated, paint a damning picture of the Maduro regime's alleged involvement in criminal activities extending to the manipulation of U.S. elections and collaboration with dangerous criminal organizations like the Tren de Aragua. These are grave allegations that resonate deeply within Venezuela, where many citizens have long accused the government of corruption, drug trafficking, and undermining democratic processes.

De acuerdo con una publicación de CNN, la carta compartida por su abogado se publicó por primera vez en The Dallas Express. En la misiva, Carvajal dijo que deseaba expiar sus malas acciones del pasado. Argumentó que lo haría "para que Estados Unidos pueda protegerse de los peligros que presenció durante tantos años".

Detailing the content of Carvajal's alleged letter to Donald Trump.

The postponement of Carvajal's sentencing hearing further fuels speculation about a cooperation agreement. His previous break with Maduro in 2019 and subsequent criticisms from exile suggest a complex history with the current Venezuelan leadership. His potential testimony could provide crucial insights into the inner workings of the regime and corroborate existing U.S. charges against Maduro.

Esto incluye un señalamiento de que Maduro trabajó para manipular elecciones en Estados Unidos, aunque no precisó cuáles. También mencionó que habría conspirado con la banda Tren de Aragua para llenar a Estados Unidos de criminales, drogas y espías.

Summarizing Carvajal's allegations against Maduro.

While U.S. authorities have not officially commented on the letter or Carvajal's potential role, his absence from the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate database, despite being in federal custody, is seen by legal experts as a strong indicator of cooperation. This situation underscores the high stakes involved, not only for Maduro but also for the broader geopolitical landscape concerning Venezuela.

La semana pasada se pospuso una audiencia de sentencia programada para Carvajal sin que se haya fijado una nueva fecha. Esto podría ser indicativo de que está llegando a un acuerdo, según el abogado Renato Stabile.

Noting the postponement of Carvajal's sentencing hearing.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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