Drug lord’s lawyer sentenced to 5 years for fraud

The lawyer of an alleged Venezuelan drug lord was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for using a false warrant to reclaim property that used to belong to his imprisoned client.

According to newspaper El Espectador, Rafael Blanco admitted to using a false warrant to secure investments and ventures that used to be owned by Walid Makled, for the drug lord’s family.

The lawyer attempted to secure six properties in the northern Venezuelan city of Valencia that were under control of the Venezuela’s National Anti-Drug Office including two shopping centers, an apartment block among other buildings.

Blanco was one of the many lawyers serving Makled, also known as ‘’The Turk’’, who, as well as owning a commercial airline and stakes in various businesses, was arrested in Colombia in May 2011 on charges of drug trafficking.

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