Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Former Venezuelan general Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios, also known as "El Pollo," has pleaded guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and engaging in narco-terrorism for the benefit of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). The announcement was made by Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Robert Murphy, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton remarked on the severity of Carvajal Barrios' actions: “The deeply troubling reality is that there are powerful foreign government officials who conspire to flood the United States with drugs that kill and debilitate.” He further noted Carvajal Barrios' role in using cocaine as a weapon through his involvement with Cartel de Los Soles, impacting communities across the United States.
Robert Murphy highlighted Carvajal Barrios’ misuse of his position: “Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios exploited his position as the director of Venezuela’s military intelligence and abandoned his responsibility to the people of Venezuela in order to intentionally cause harm to the United States.” Murphy added that after years evading law enforcement, Carvajal Barrios will likely spend life in federal prison.
According to court documents, since at least 1999, Carvajal Barrios acted alongside other high-ranking Venezuelan officials as leaders within Cartel de Los Soles. This group facilitated cocaine importation into the U.S., partnering with FARC for drug trafficking operations. In one instance in 2006, he coordinated a shipment of 5.6 tons of cocaine from Venezuela to Mexico.
Carvajal Barrios held various public positions which he used to benefit Cartel de Los Soles. He is accused of coordinating multi-ton drug shipments and providing armed protection for these operations. Additionally, he allegedly supplied weapons to FARC and engaged in violent acts like kidnappings and murder.
One co-defendant, Cliver Antonio Alcala Cordones, was sentenced on April 11, 2024, receiving a term of 260 months for supporting FARC with firearms. Other co-conspirators remain at large.
Carvajal Barrios pled guilty to four counts from a Superseding Indictment and faces potential life imprisonment upon sentencing scheduled for October 29, 2025.
The case involved extensive cooperation among international law enforcement agencies. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted significantly in securing Carvajal Barrios' extradition from Spain on July 19, 2023.
This prosecution forms part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation aimed at dismantling major criminal organizations threatening U.S. security.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Kaylan E. Lasky, Kevin T. Sullivan along with Trial Attorney Kevin Nunnally are leading this prosecution effort.
