Missed chance to rip the veil from corruption in Venezuela

Roger Noriega:
The Netherlands’ decision to release powerful retired Venezuelan general Hugo Carvajal in Aruba, arrested Wednesday at the request of US law enforcement, is a boon to the narcostate in Caracas. It will make it easier for the Obama administration to continue ignoring the corrupt and repressive regime in Venezuela.

What happens in Venezuela matters here. It’s the world’s ninth-largest oil exporter, with the largest proven petroleum reserves of any country. And that nation of 30 million people and a $400 billion economy has disproportionate influence in the Americas.

Its government has spent billions of dollars on Russian arms and abetted the criminal activities of Iran and Hezbollah.

And the Carvajal arrest could’ve rip the veil off the regime’s alliance with Colombian narcotraffickers.

Were federal prosecutors to lay out their case against Carvajal in a New York courtroom, they’d reveal the involvement of dozens of senior Venezuelan officials in narcotrafficking and related crimes — exposing the regime’s lawlessness.

These revelations would have a devastating impact on a government that has been falling apart since the death of leftist strongman Hugo Chávez in March 2013.

His successor, Nicolás Maduro, is wrestling with an oil sector faltering thanks to colossal corruption and mismanagement, a collapsing economy, rampant street crime and expanding political unrest. Worse, the money’s running out, as Caracas spends down its dwindling international reserves.

Maduro’s failings have cost him the support of very poor Venezuelans who depend on government handouts and are weary of routine food shortages and blackouts.

Worse for Maduro, a cadre of Chavista military leaders have never supported him, particularly since he was promoted to the presidency over one of their own, Diosdado Cabello.
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There is more.

I have blogged before about the Venezuela connection to drug trafficking not only into the US but also Europe via West Africa.  I don't know why the Dutch would let this guy go, but it is a missed chance to uncover the corruption that plagues Venezuela.

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