A newly unsealed federal indictment reveals that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro played a significant role in the operations of the Cartel de Los Soles, far beyond previous estimates. The indictment, presented in a New York federal court, details Maduro’s rise within the cartel, suggesting that his influence expanded significantly after the death of President Hugo Chavez.

While initially not among the primary officials involved when Chavez first allied with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to smuggle cocaine, Maduro eventually became one of the top leaders. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that by 2020, around 220 tons of drugs were trafficked through Venezuela annually.

Maduro, originally charged in 2020, was thought to have played a minor role, with the cartel’s leadership attributed mainly to former National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello and ex-Vice President Tareck El Aissami. However, as Maduro’s power grew, so did his involvement in the cartel, coordinating drug shipments and working with Central American authorities to ensure the smooth passage of drugs to the United States.

The indictment claims Maduro managed multi-ton cocaine shipments from the FARC, exchanging drugs for money and weapons. This operation included setting up an “air bridge” for drug transportation and utilizing Venezuela’s coastline for maritime shipments. 

Furthermore, the indictment reveals Maduro’s role in identifying and removing judges not compliant with the cartel’s operations and his involvement in money laundering through the state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela.

Maduro’s involvement deepened as he transitioned from Foreign Minister to President, maintaining open borders with Colombia to facilitate drug trafficking. His family also benefited, with nephews arrested in 2015 for attempting to export 800 kilos of cocaine to the U.S. They were later sentenced to 18 years but released in a 2022 prisoner swap.

These revelations underscore the extensive integration of Venezuela’s state mechanisms with drug trafficking under Maduro’s regime.