A notorious British crime figure referred to as The One allegedly collaborated with ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a significant cocaine smuggling operation, as per a US indictment. Robert Dawes, also known as The Voice, received a 22-year prison sentence in France for orchestrating a £216 million drug shipment, which US prosecutors claim involved Maduro. The ex-president and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently detained in New York, facing various charges, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and possessing weapons for potential use against the US.
According to the indictment, Maduro and two high-ranking officials were implicated in trafficking 1.3 tonnes of cocaine via an Air France flight from Caracas to Paris in September 2013. The illicit substances were concealed in 31 unclaimed suitcases on the flight, hinting at potential involvement of security personnel at Maiquetia Airport in Caracas. Allegedly, Maduro held an urgent meeting with Diosdado Cabello Rondon, the current Minister of the Interior, and Hugo Carvajal Barrios, the former military intelligence chief, after the drug seizure.
The US Department of Justice asserts that Maduro instructed Rondon and Barrios to avoid using the airport for future drug transports and instead utilize established drug routes for trafficking. Maduro purportedly sanctioned the arrest of Venezuelan military officials to divert attention from his involvement in the drug shipment and its subsequent cover-up. The indictment, which does not mention Dawes, accuses Maduro of collaborating with violent drug traffickers and narco-terrorists over an extended period.
In connection with the massive drug haul, Venezuelan authorities arrested 22 individuals, including eight National Guard members and nine Air France and airport employees. The incident occurred shortly after Maduro succeeded Hugo Chavez, following the latter’s death in 2013. Dawes, during a conversation with Colombian drug traffickers in 2014, boasted about his role in the Paris drug shipment, indicating his involvement in the operation.
Maduro, often criticized as a harsh dictator internationally, denies the accusations of being a drug cartel leader, attributing US actions to a ploy to seize Venezuelan resources. The case has raised concerns about its compliance with international law, with Maduro pleading not guilty to the charges. Experts question the legitimacy of the accusations, suggesting they might be politically motivated due to allegations of drug trafficking in Venezuela.