In an ongoing trial that kicked off on Monday, Venezuelan national Carlos Orense is facing charges of smuggling massive amounts of cocaine into the United States. The focus of the trial will be on the alleged connections between drug traffickers and high-ranking military officials in Venezuela. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan claim that Orense paid millions of dollars in bribes to senior military officials in order to protect the shipments of cocaine he brought in from neighboring Colombia and transported to the United States.

A cooperating witness is expected to testify that a former CEO of US refiner Citgo Petroleum, which is owned by Venezuela's state-owned oil company, helped Orense launder money. The witness's testimony is based on court records and information from a lawyer involved in a parallel case. Orense has pleaded not guilty to charges of narcotics importation conspiracy and criminal weapons possession. Both Citgo Petroleum and Venezuela's information ministry have declined to comment on the case. The allegations of Venezuelan officials' involvement in the drug trade have long strained the relationship between the United States and the socialist-run OPEC member.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro himself was indicted on "narcoterrorism charges" by the US in 2020, which he vehemently denied, dismissing them as false and racist. This trial is set to shed light on how drug traffickers were able to influence Venezuela's military during the tenures of Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. Prosecutors argue that Orense's drug shipments were able to move in and out of Venezuela freely due to the support of Venezuelan officials and the military. However, Orense's defense team asserts that the case is built on rumors and lacks direct evidence of him bribing officials.

They also plan to challenge the credibility of at least one prosecution witness, who was described as a former member of Orense's cartel and has been convicted of federal fraud charges. Prosecutors, on the other hand, claim that this witness is being paid to cooperate with the government. Furthermore, prosecutors have stated that Orense worked closely with a former chief of Venezuela's military intelligence agency, who was indicted alongside Maduro and recently extradited to the United States from Spain.

Although the prosecutors did not name the former chief, the description matches that of Hugo Carvajal, who has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Carvajal's lawyer has confirmed that prosecutors were indeed referring to his client. As the trial unfolds, it is expected to expose the intricate nexus between drug traffickers and powerful military figures in Venezuela, providing crucial insights into the country's illicit drug trade operations.