Former top leaders of Venezuela’s anti-narcotics agency indicted for trafficking drugs to the US
NEW YORK — The former general director and sub-director of Venezuela’s La Oficina Nacional Antidrogas (ONA) were indicted Tuesday for their participation in an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. The indictment stems from a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state and local law enforcement agencies.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) is charging Nestor Luis Reverol Torres, the former general director of Venezuela’s ONA and former commander of Venezuela’s National Guard, and Edylberto Jose Molina Molina, the former sub-director of ONA and currently Venezuela’s military attaché to Germany, for trafficking drugs to the United States while they served for the ONA.
“These former government officials allegedly used their positions of trust to feed their greed, and along the way betrayed their oath of service by warning drug traffickers of sensitive law enforcement operations,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal and international law enforcement partners to expose criminals who attempt to cross our borders with illicit drugs.”
“Nothing can be more damaging to law enforcement’s efforts to stop the flow of illegal drugs than when corrupt public officials violate the public’s trust by actively assisting drug traffickers in their deadly criminal activities.” said Robert L. Capers, United States attorney for EDNY.
According to court documents, from January 2008 to December 2010, in their then official capacities at the ONA, Reverol and Molina received payments from drug traffickers in exchange for assisting in the distribution of cocaine for ultimate importation into the United States. They also interfered with ongoing narcotics investigations to allow vehicles carrying cocaine to leave Venezuela. The pair arranged for the release of individuals arrested for narcotics violations and organized the release of narcotics and narcotics related currency that had been seized by law enforcement. Reverol and Molina further prevented the arrest or deportation of individuals targeted by foreign countries, such as the United States, for prosecution on drug-related charges.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the EDNY International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.
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