Venezuela Indicts High Level Electricity Official for Cocaine Trafficking

Caracas, April 28, 2016 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela’s Public Prosecutor’s office issued an indictment on Tuesday against the ex-communications coordinator of the National Electric Corporation (CORPOLEC), who was arrested on March 1 for possession of over 335 kilos of cocaine.

Kevin Jose Nava Vieras, 30, was arrested in Playa Villa Bahareque, Miranda state after failing to comply with orders to stop for a routine inspection at a National Guard checkpoint.

With Nava in the passenger seat, the driver of the vehicle proceeded to violently accelerate through the checkpoint, driving three kilometers up the road before both suspects attempted to flee on foot.

Upon inspecting the truck– which had no license plate and a false CORPOLEC insignia– authorities uncovered 335 kilos and 290 grams of cocaine that were impounded along with the vehicle.

Nava has been charged with illicit trafficking of psychotropic substances and association to commit crimes.

The indictment follows a string of arrests of high level officials in Venezuela’s state airline CONVIASA on corruption charges.

Last week, the ex-head of transportation for the airline, Leonardo Sanchez Ramirez, was charged with trafficking of influences and association to commit crimes for his alleged role in the overcharging of domestic and international tickets.

Also charged with the same offenses was the general manager of ground operations, Alberto Rafael Bogarin, as well as the manager of platform operations, Luis Alberto Salvatore.

The general manager of commercialization, Francisco Salvador Mannuzza, and the charter group agent Adrian Enrique Semprun were, for their part, charged with extortion, wrongful access to technology systems, and association to commit crimes.

All officials were arrested by Military Counter-Intelligence Directorate agents in February.