A U.S. judge on Tuesday rejected a bid by a retired Venezuelan general to dismiss drug trafficking charges against him on the basis of foreign sovereign immunity, saying the doctrine does not apply to a “rogue state.”
By Reuters – Luc Cohen
Mar 15, 2022
Cliver Alcala in 2020 was charged with four counts of drugs and weapons crimes. U.S. prosecutors say he participated in a “narco-terrorism” conspiracy in which senior Venezuelan government officials conspired with the FARC Colombian rebel group to ship cocaine to the United States.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein disagreed.
“Sovereign immunity does not affect a rogue state or rogue officials,” Hellerstein said. “We’re dealing with criminal conduct at the highest levels of government.”
Alcala pleaded not guilty after surrendering to U.S. agents in Colombia.
The 2020 indictment came as the Trump administration aimed to force Maduro, who Washington accuses of election-rigging and rights violations, from office. Maduro and Cabello have denied accusations of drug trafficking, and argue Washington is seeking to overthrow their government to control the OPEC nation’s oil.
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