The collaboration of former Venezuelan military intelligence chief, Hugo Armando Carvajal, known as "El Pollo," with the United States justice system has caused major controversy that directly affects the Argentine political landscape and, in particular, the Kirchnerist Jorge Taiana, former foreign minister and current candidate for national deputy of Fuerza Patria for the province of Buenos Aires.
Carvajal, extradited to the United States in 2023 after remaining a fugitive in Spain for two years, pleaded guilty before the Southern District Court of New York to four charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, acknowledging his involvement in the Cartel de los Soles and in the trafficking of tons of cocaine destined for North America.
The importance of his testimony lies not only in his role within Venezuelan criminal structures, but also in the unpublished documentation he is willing to provide regarding international networks for political financing of the Chavista regime.
Jorge Taiana y Nicolás Maduro.
Among the most sensitive information Carvajal has already delivered is the confession that Chavismo used the state oil company Pdvsa to send cash funds to various left-wing political movements in Latin America and Europe. According to his statement, the transfers were made through diplomatic pouches, coordinated by Tareck El Aissami, then Minister of the Interior and close collaborator of dictator Nicolás Maduro.
In this context, Carvajal mentioned the Kirchners as recipients of funds from these operations. What has caused particular interest in Argentina is the identification of Jorge Taiana as foreign minister during the period in which, according to the former spy's confession, these illegal money transfer maneuvers were carried out.
"The Venezuelan government has illegally financed left-wing political movements around the world for at least 15 years," Carvajal stated in a document submitted to the judge.
El informe confidencial.
Carvajal's testimony also details that these financing strategies were not limited to Argentina, but also reached leaders such as Lula da Silva, Evo Morales, Gustavo Petro, Fernando Lugo, among others, as well as political movements in Europe such as Podemos and the Five Star Movement in Italy. The operation combined cash and diplomatic logistics, a method that Carvajal claims remained in effect during Maduro's tenure as foreign minister.
United States judicial sources emphasize that Carvajal's information could serve to expand investigations into the influence of Chavismo in foreign political campaigns and its direct connection with international drug trafficking networks.
In this context, Jorge Taiana is directly involved, since his institutional role during the indicated period indirectly links him to the diplomatic channels used for these money transfers.
