The alleged Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled, extradited home on Monday, is officially charged with the crimes of contract killings, drug trafficking and money laundering, AFP reported.
The 42-year-old will remain in prison in Caracas until his trial begins, for which his lawyer for “a fair trial, oral and public.”
Makled has been charged with being the mastermind behind the murder of two people in Venezuela, as well as the “smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, money laundering and association with crime.”
Makled’s trial promises to be one of the most controversial in Venezuela’s recent history, since Makled has admitted to having links with members of the Venezuelan political establishment, as well as top-ranking military personnel.
The Venezuelan government has promised to ensure Makled’s human rights are protected, following concerns that he may be silenced upon his arrival in Venezuela, stating that he will enjoy all the “constitutional guarantees” and “will have the opportunity to be heard.”
The revelations had seen him highly sought after by both the U.S. and his home country, with Colombia caught in the middle of a tug-of-war for his extradition until opting to send him to Venezuela in March 2010.
Speaking from his cell in Colombia, Makled reiterated that he had “strong evidence” regarding his links to top-ranking officials and has maintained that he financed President Hugo Chavez’s election campaign.