New York, Dec 16 (EFE).- U.S. Justice is filing a lawsuit against two top Venezuelan officials for allegedly receiving money from drug traffickers, reported The New York Times Tuesday.
The two accused are Venezuelan National Guard head, Nestor Reverol, and Edilberto Molina, a former officer of the antidrug unit of Venezuela, both of whom will be charged soon in a federal court in Brooklyn.
The charges "will mark the latest in a series of charges by United States prosecutors against powerful Venezuelans who the prosecutors say have assumed a large role in the narcotics trade."
Reverol's indictment is likely to be announced in December and will represent a high profile case that could involve the Venezuelan political elite, said The Times.
The report said, Reverol, who served as Minister for Interior and Justice during the government of Hugo Chavez and was in charge of the drug enforcement unit, was allegedly on the payroll of criminal organizations for more than a decade and regularly warned drug traffickers regarding raids, and in some cases "stopped or hindered investigations."
The newspaper recalled there is no extradition treaty between Venezuela and United States and believes both Reverol and Molina are currently in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, two men related to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, were also arrested on Nov. 10 in Haiti and moved to New York for introducing at least 5 kg (11 pounds) of drugs into United States through Honduras.
Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 29, and Francisco Flores de Freitas, 30, godson and nephew of Maduro, respectively, are set to appear Thursday before a judge at a hearing that was initially scheduled for Nov. 18.
If the men are found guilty, they could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
On Nov. 12, Campo Flores and Flores de Freitas appeared for the first time before a judge, who sent them to a New York prison without bail.
