The authorities in Havana immediately rejected the complaints of the former head of Venezuelan military intelligence about Cuban support for Chavismo’s drug trafficking networks.
MADRID, Spain.- The Cuban Government rejected a few hours later the recent accusations that link it to drug trafficking operations in Latin America, following the statements of the former head of Venezuelan military intelligence, Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal, who assured that for more than two decades Chavismo operated drug trafficking structures with the support of Havana.
The official response of the regime occurred in an appearance at the International Press Center in Havana. Senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) participated. As reviewed the EFE agencypresent at the press conference, the Cuban authorities denied any involvement of the State in activities related to drug trafficking and reiterated their policy of “zero tolerance” against this crime.
Although in the official appearance the Cuban authorities avoided directly mentioning the letter released by Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal or making explicit reference to his name, the immediate and emphatic nature of the statement shows the impact that these complaints have had for the regime.
The head of the specialized anti-drug confrontation body of the MININT, Colonel Juan Carlos Poey, stated that “Cuba is not a producing country nor a transit country for drugs,” and said that the accusations are unfounded. For his part, First Colonel Ybey Carballo, head of the Border Guard Troops, maintained that the Island maintains exchanges of operational information with other countries, including the United States, regarding the fight against drug trafficking. At the same time, he insisted that Cuba shares information about routes, vessels and suspicious operations.
The official statements came after Carvajal, currently detained in the United States, publicly stated that the Cuban Government provided advice, protection and logistical support to drug trafficking networks linked to Chavismo. The former Venezuelan official was a key figure in the intelligence apparatus of the Nicolás Maduro regime and faces charges for drug trafficking and terrorism in US federal courts.
From Havana, the authorities described the complaints as “unfounded” and part of a discredit campaign against the Cuban State. They also defended the country’s record in the fight against drug trafficking and recalled its participation in international agreements for the prosecution of this crime. However, the official response has been limited to public denial of the facts and defense of its anti-drug policy.
The complaints of the former Venezuelan intelligence chief revive accusations about the close political, military and security relationship between the governments of Cuba and Venezuela, an alliance that has been questioned on repeated occasions by international organizations, foreign governments and human rights organizations.
