"Makled is firing a gust; let us see whether it is effective or not"

Defense Minister Mata Figueroa is positive that the army is not afraid of Makled’s alleged evidence of military involvement in the drug business (Photo: Angel Dejesus)

Drug Trafficking
"Easy" and "no fear." This is the way of the national armed forces in light of the claims of presumed drug trafficker Walid Makled, according to General-in-chief (army) Carlos Mata Figueroa, the Defense Minister.

At his office located in Fuerte Tiuna, the general-in-chief deems it convenient for the Venezuelan detainee in Colombia, also subject to a request for extradition to the United States, to "come and tell in his country what the matter is."

Makled has fingered generals, colonels... who made his illegal operations easier.
I said already that everything is to be investigated. The Venezuelan judiciary will make all enquiries. I am keenly aware, as the commander-in-chief (President Hugo Chávez) said, of the need to conduct any investigation necessary to be done.

But it is of common knowledge that Makled has put the blame on generals who occupied and occupy key positions. It would be advisable for the national armed forces to advance an in-house investigation.
We have made and continue making enquiries. But let us wait for the evidence that he (Makled) claims to have. As soon as he produces the evidence and tells what is about, we will keep on investigating. Now, we have investigated with the little we have. Let us wait calmly. There are not protected people here.

You are accused of taking a DC9 filled with 5.5 tons of cocaine through ramp 4 at Maiquetía international airport. Makled said that if he is to pay for that plane, then the officials responsible for the terminal should also pay for it, that is: Generals Henry Rangel Silva (Chief of the Strategic Operational Command); Luis Mota Domínguez (National Guard commander) and Hugo Carvajal (Director of the Military Intelligence Directorate).
All of this forms part of a plot. Anyhow, we will investigate. Any investigations as appropriate will be conducted. Rest assured, because any investigation necessary to be done will be conducted. For this reason, it is convenient for him to come and tell in his country what is about.

Should departure of tons of cocaine from Maiquetía be proved then these generals would be held accountable.
Let us wait for the enquiries.

Makled talked about a route to take drugs out, beginning in western Apure state, passing through Honduras, Mexico and ending in the United States.
Over the past few years, we have reinforced the whole border region and have captured a large amount of aircrafts. This is of common knowledge. Yesterday (Tuesday, April 5) in Chaparralito (Apure state), we captured a plane. We interdicted it entering Venezuela; it was coming from Central America, passed through Colombia, and we intercepted and chase it. We had to use several planes in the operation and would not leave it alone until the guy landed in Chaparralito.

According to Makled, there are 40 generals, colonels, mayors. That gentleman was in possession of the main port in the country and has made serious accusations, such as having sponsored President Hugo Chávez's campaign.
Again, let us wait for the enquiries. All that he says will be investigated; whether it is true or not.

Is there fear in the national armed forces of the evidence he claimed to have -videos, vouchers, etc.?
No fear. That is what agencies responsible for all that are for.

In addition, he accused General Cliver Alcalá, the head of the Garrison of Valencia (capital city of central Carabobo state), of having placed the seized drug in one of his properties in Carabobo state. Has the national armed forces investigated that?
Who was the first who denounced the Makled's case? The Venezuelan State. Who did seek the international capture of that man? The Venezuelan State. For this reason, he was captured in Colombia. So, please, do not tell me that we are obstructing or hiding things. Rather, it was us who brought it to light. That is why I am telling you, easy, let us wait for the guy to tell what he has to, in order to ascertain whether it is true. Let him prove it; produce the evidence he presumably has.

It is said that the Venezuelan State is afraid of Makled's extradition to the United States because of the evidence he claims to have.
No fear. But he would rather tell in his country what is and what is not. Let us find out here what is about.

Makled said that if he is a drug trafficker, so are all of those who granted him concessions under the government of Hugo Chávez, because for eight years he was the recipient of concessions in Puerto Cabello and Pequiven, among others. Do you share such an assumption?
What I am saying is that we need to probe everything. He is firing a gust; let us see whether it is effective or not.

Some criticize that disagreements with Makled came out only when his brother Abdallah challenged Chavezism for the Valencia Mayoralty.
Clearly, the Venezuelan State denounced Makled.

Would you stick your neck out for those generals? Are they clean as to their relationship with Makled?
There is an institution, and there are men in the institution. Therefore, let us wait for the enquiries and the enquiries will dictate all what our judiciary should do. The commander's directions in this regard are implacable. We have fought for years against corruption. It is most important for that gentleman to come here. It is a sovereign decision of Colombia and all what we expect is justice administration.