In any other country, today’s interview in El Nacional (reprinted here) with accused drug dealer Walid Makled, would have raised all sorts of alarms about corruption and graft, but in Venezuela we have become so accustomed to it that not much happens. Neither Government officials, nor opposition members have said much. Particularly disturbing is that those in charge of investigating have said little about the scandalous denunciations and accusations of Makled.
Because Makled makes may accusations, some general, some very specific, but claims to have proofs of payments to important Government officials and their relatives both in Venezuela and abroad.
Makled, who is in jail in Colombia, waiting to be extradited to the US, denies being a drug dealer, but among other pearls he says the following:
-Through then Governor Acosta Carles of Carabobo State, he gave US$2 million to the pro-Chavez side in the 2004 recall referendum.
-He purchased from the Governorship the concession for the Pto. Cabello port storage for BsF. 12 million, he says he gave Acosta five checks for Bs. 1 million and was invited to a public meeting in which Acosta Carles called the money “a donation”
-He accuses Generals Orlando Rodriguez and Cliver Alcala of planting the drugs in his farm.
-He claims to have vouchers, account numbers of Government officials and their relatives, including Ministers, Generals. Admirals, Colonels and five Deputies of the National Assembly. He also denounces General Nestor Reverol, who he says has run his companies since they were taken over by the Government, during which they have generated US$ 140 million which should have been deposited in an escrow account at a Court but haven’t.
-He is asked about the credential from the Venezuelan Supreme Court which he carried, but says that he will talk about that at a future date. Here is what the reporter is referring to, a credential identifying Walid Makled as a “Comissar” of Venezuela’s Supreme Court:
-Makled claims that he has proof of paying off 15 Generals of the Venezuelan Armed Forces, but there are and additional 25 “friendly” Generals that he also helped out “on the side”. When asked who they are, he says: “How can General Nestor Reverol live in a US$ 3-4 million home or that his family lives in Cabimas in a US$ 2 million home?”
-In closing Makled claims that each week he would ship 10 large containers of mattresses, refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, as a “favor” to the military and that the stiff was shipped out to Cuba, without any customs control.
True? False? In between? Who knows. But Makled gives names, facts and to start with, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has to clarify how Mr. Makled had the credential above in his possession and the General Prosecutor will have to investigate where those specific Generals live.
Whats is clear to me is how high drug money is getting in Venezuela. these accusations have become routine. The US has said Generals at the highest levels in the Venezuelan military are involved, but nothing is ever investigated.
Are we going the way of Mexico, but run by the military and foreigners?
The Devil's Excrement 
November 10, 2010 at 10:47 pm
[…] have not written much about the case, it has been covered extensively elsewhere. I did write abut his accusations, simply because they were incredible and the Government barely […]
October 11, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Don Hugo has two things going for him- first, by supplying oil to the USA, it’s hard for that country to punish Hugo, or the principal collaborators. Second, by paying off the upper levels of the Armed Forces, Hugo keeps the lid on potential rebellion. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx As things continue to go from bad to worse, I’m afraid that Venezuela has only two choices, financial collapse, or armed rebellion.
MO: Sorry Ken, such comments could get me into trouble. had to censor it.
October 11, 2010 at 10:13 am
I confess I have never really read Naomi Klein. I, like most liberals, would desire that any transition to a market economy be made gradually, without despoiling people of their savings, with enough cushioning and enough (temporary) assistance, that people grow accustomed to the new situation. Gradual liberalization, abolition of irrational law, regulation and privilege, a transition to fiscal discipline. More than sudden privatization or sudden price increases.
I crookedly concur with her on one thing. Shock is necessary in some cases.
It is just that I believe that the happy state she seems to advocate, the social-silly, unsustainable situation that is destroyed by shock is like addiction
There are people who quit an unsustainable addiction after a rational exposition and balance of pros and cons. Maybe with a little prodding from reality and an ultimatum. And there are countries that accept reality without social upheaval.
And there are folks who need to lose everything they had, to be shocked and reborn, to quit. I believe Venezuelans belong to this type and are hooked to oil. We will need to be shocked to the core and a close call before Venezuela can be called a functioning republic (and country) again.
October 11, 2010 at 9:41 am
MO:
You should revise and elimanate some comments of previous post.
October 11, 2010 at 8:35 am
Off Topic: Is the Veneco that was expropriated Sunday the Same Veneco of the Kauffman Maleatagate scandal?
October 11, 2010 at 8:23 am
Wether what Makled says is true or not,it won’t make a difference. People just dont react to this-Just as LoroFeroz said it, were used to corruption.Whats the worst that’ll happen? Nothing,in a month we wont even remember this. It’s sad that this kind of things don’t even get investigated.Im going for president on 2012,wish me luck.Looks like a god damned good business,makes me rich,i’ll have power over a nation, lackeys,sex, drugs and rock and roll baby. Chavez is living the dream big time.The whole cabinet is.And people is somehow blind and keeps sucking on their thumbs
October 11, 2010 at 7:22 am
It’s harder to make this stuff up. I’m buying it all. Maybe just the numbers are enhanced a bit.
October 10, 2010 at 11:40 pm
In a country with institutions, the opposition would be dancing in the streets and planning an interim government. The government would be rocking and about to fall, provided only that the guy singing (Makled) sings 1% truth.
In a country where the government is corrupt but there is some sense of shame and a republic in place, the opposition would be planning a return at the next election, safely.
But this is Venezuela. To the bad that was there in 1998, they have added 12 wonderful years of rule by the most corrupt military in Latin America, whether retired or not. The guys handling the investigations and the court hearings managed Danilo Anderson’s case, for example.
If anything, this will serve as confirmation to the most obtuse of Venezuelans of what was known all along if you had eyes in your head. That this is no better than the worst of the so-called 4th. A decadent continuation and deepening of abuse and corruption, with a change of color under the direction of the military.
I even wonder if the life of Walid Makled is really in danger. In a corrupt country with a government that is self conscious and a courts’ system, those involved would have tried to silence Makled, or would try to silence officials or journalists following the leads he drops.
But this is Venezuela. We are accustomed to corruption of African levels, it seems. The government is anything but self conscious, or conscious at all.
You can only hope for these things (and a lot of them) to take a small toll in government support in the long run. I maintain that Venezuelans will need a lot of pain to really change outlook. This is only infuriating and ironic. Not painful, yet.
October 10, 2010 at 11:28 pm
In an absurd way Makled is reaping the seed he planted. When the
original PDVSa went on strike and the company came to a screeching
hault if he had not supplied the transport for the oil to get out of the Port
then I truly believe the XXI would have been contained. As a result of
his action massive dismissals, brain drain and further confiscations occurred.
PDVSa at that point was already a National concern from the previous government.
The fact that he is willing to pay “donations“ shows he is willing to break the law.
Did the drugs get planted on him. Yes. No one making that much money touches the product directly. Did he know it was getting shipped out of his port? Yes, by turning his head at the least he is an accomplice.
This coming week the UN Security Council votes Columbia into one of its
rotating chairs replacing the exiting Mexico. This gives Columbia direct and
immediate access to the laws that cover Terrorism and Narco money. Cardoba was a warning to HCF. He appears to be deaf. With the information that Makled provides along with the computers and witnesses there will be no problem in getting HCF to the ICC. The only problem is that I don’t think Columbia will make the move until Hugo finishes paying the bill. 200 million paid so far but still 586 million outstanding to Columbian companies.
What bothers me is the lack of reaction from the population. They are numb from so much chaos. And the pain goes on ……… Venaco / Fertinitro
October 10, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I’ve said it for years, the revolution is been financed by oil, drugs and arms trading. Three of the most profitable businesses in the world.
October 10, 2010 at 9:28 pm
No, he owned the storage facilities at the port, that is what was expropriated.
October 10, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Let me get this right…… The government expropriated his alleged narco-trafico and black market import/ export business?