Retired Venezuelan three-star army general Cliver Alcalá, known for his opposition to President Nicolás Maduro, is awaiting sentencing in an upstate New York correctional facility on federal charges of providing weapons to drug-funded rebels. Alcalá, who twice attempted coups against Maduro, expressed regret for the pain his actions have caused his family.
Alcalá, who pleaded guilty to providing weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), faced two days of testimony implicating him in drug smuggling activities dating back two decades. Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year sentence, citing allegations of accepting bribes to facilitate cocaine shipments.
Analysts suggest that a severe punishment for Alcalá could deter disloyalty within the Venezuelan military, crucial for Maduro's regime. Alcalá's case is part of a broader conspiracy involving Maduro and other officials to traffic cocaine into the U.S., known as the 'Cartel of the Suns.'
Despite claims of his involvement in drug trafficking, Alcalá's defense argues that the accusations lack credibility and may be retaliatory. His attorneys seek a six-year sentence, emphasizing his modest lifestyle prior to arrest.
Alcalá's history of opposition to Maduro includes involvement in failed insurrection attempts in 2017 and 2019, the latter in collaboration with U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó. His arrest in Colombia thwarted the latter effort, leading to Maduro's denunciation of Alcalá as a traitor and drug trafficker.
Alcalá's personal background, marked by poverty and military service from a young age, contrasts with many of Maduro's opponents from the elite class. Despite his current incarceration, Alcalá maintains a disciplined routine, reflecting on his past through reading and physical exercise.
