The judge overseeing the U.S. Justice case against former Venezuelan general Hugo El Pollo Carvajal, who stands accused of drug trafficking, rejected a defense request on Wednesday. Lawyers in the defense argued that testimony from a Mexican drug trafficker could help establish Carvajal’s innocence. This stance was conveyed to reporters by the defense team in statements to EFE and underscores the ongoing dispute over what evidence should be admissible at trial.
Carvajal, who was extradited from Spain in July, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he smuggled cocaine into the United States. Judge Alvin Hallerstein, presiding over the case, gave the prosecution a three-month deadline to present all remaining evidence, a cutoff that passed on Wednesday, November 1. The court remains a focal point for questions about the scope and impact of the evidence in this high-profile matter.
During today’s New York hearing, the judge, part of the pretrial preparations, denied a defense motion to include testimony from the witness identified as Luis Fernando Bertulucci Castillo, a Mexican drug trafficker who operates under a pseudonym. The Prosecutor’s Office opposed the inclusion, arguing that Bertulucci’s testimony would not be favorable to the defense. The defense had asked to hear this testimony in November 2022, and renewed the request about two weeks ago, noting that Blengio, the witness, is no longer in U.S. custody but is willing to testify from Mexico since entering the United States is not possible for him at this time.
Judge Hallerstein scheduled the next hearing in Carvajal’s case for December 12. The case, initially brought by U.S. authorities in 2020, also involves Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and former official Diosdado Cabello, with prosecutors describing the matter as part of a narco-terrorist conspiracy that implicates several top political figures and others connected to the ruling party. The U.S. Attorney’s Office contends that Carvajal helped coordinate shipments of large quantities of cocaine, including a notable operation tied to a DC-9 aircraft that allegedly traveled from Venezuela to Mexico in 2006. This flight is cited as a central issue in the proceedings, and the defense’s motion to admit Bertulucci’s testimony was rejected after examination by the court and arguments from both sides.
Defense attorney Zachary Margulos-Ohnuma argued that Bertulucci admitted the plane belonged to him and that other Venezuelan officials were bribed, not Carvajal, a claim he says should have been explored through testimony. He expressed disappointment at the exclusion of this witness, asserting that Bertulucci could offer evidence about the individuals responsible for the incident and broader drug-trafficking activities, as explained to EFE. The defense maintains that the trial revolves around uncovering facts and questions why the government and the judge would not permit the jury to hear the full story regarding the airplane ownership and the implicated parties. The defense stressed that the aircraft is central to the charges against Hugo Carvajal and the alleged network described by authorities.
The United States contends that Carvajal, together with Maduro and Cabello, participated in a corrupt and violent narco-terrorist conspiracy. Prosecutors describe the involved actors as members of the Los Soles cartel and allied Colombian groups, including guerrilla factions that have been active for years. The government asserts that these connections illustrate a broader pattern of criminal conduct tied to illicit drug shipments and violent criminal activity across the hemisphere. This framing helps explain the significance of the case within the U.S. justice system and the wider geopolitical implications for both North American and South American security interests. The current proceedings reflect ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to pursue accountability for narcotics trafficking and related crimes that transcend national borders and implicate public officials and organized criminal networks in the region. DOJ