Jorge Rodríguez: New Evidence Reveals Juan Guaidó’s Links to Drug Trafficking
On Friday, March 18, the president of the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, presented new evidence about the links of former deputy Juan Guaidó and his Voluntad Popular (VP) party with Colombian drug trafficking.
At a press conference, Rodríguez showed evidence of Guaidó’s links with Italian-Venezuelan drug trafficker Biagio Benito Garofalo Forte, who was arrested this March 14 in Colombia. The drug trafficker had an Interpol red alert against him in more than 190 countries.
Since 2006, Garofalo was part of an organization that introduced drugs into Spain through the company Top Tropical Fruit Group that ships fruits from South America to Spain through the port of Barcelona.
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“The relations between Juan Guaidó and Colombian drug traffickers and representatives of Venezuelan drug traffickers are clear,” denounced Rodríguez. “It is known, it is public, communicable and proven.”
In 2016, Guaidó had appointed Garofalo Forte as the municipal head of VP in Anaco, Anzoátegui state.
El narcotraficante Biagio Garofalo detenido recientemente en Colombia guardaba vínculos políticos con integrantes de Voluntad Popular y dirigentes opositores, entre ellos, el exdiputado Marco Aurelio Quiñones. pic.twitter.com/sbGhFbU5MI
— REDRADIOVE (@RedRadioVe) March 18, 2022
Rodríguez also mentioned that Garofalo acted as a liaison between the United States “ambassador” to Venezuela, James Story, and Juan Guaidó. He was VP’s main financier too.
Deputy Rodríguez, who is also the president of the Commission for Dialogue, Peace and National Reconciliation, showed chats that confirmed the relation of former deputy Marco Aurelio Quiñones with drug trafficker Garofalo.
Jorge Rodríguez presentó conversaciones de Whatsapp entre Franco Casella y Marco Aurelio Quiñones sobre la detención de Biaggio Garafolo: "Me preocupa. Hubo fotos del encuentro que tuvimos en Caracas". pic.twitter.com/r1Z45a8sGa
— REDRADIOVE (@RedRadioVe) March 18, 2022
In the chats of former deputy Quiñones (one of Guaidó’s right-hand man) with the ex-parliamentarian Franco Casella, his concern about the evidence that Garofalo could present is evident.
Rodríguez also showed a photo in which Garofalo appears together with the mayor of Lechería, Manuel Ferreira González, and the director of Guaidó’s alleged office, Luis Somaza.
Another piece of evidence was a video recorded in 2019, at a private party at Garofalo’s house in the Las Tinajas Country Club housing complex, where Juan Guaidó was present along with some other opposition leaders.
#URGENTE | Develan video de la casa del narcotráficante Biagio Garófalo donde se ve junto a Juan Guaidó. pic.twitter.com/T1ppcrGoaY
— REDRADIOVE (@RedRadioVe) March 18, 2022
“In January 2019,” Rodríguez stated, “a party was held in Anaco, where Juan Guaidó, Marco Aurelio Quiñones, Carlos Paparoni and Barreto Sira were present.”
All these photos, videos and messages constitute undeniable evidence of Guaidó’s links with narco-trafficking, according to Rodríguez.
Featured image: National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez speaks on the evidence linking Juan Guaidó with drug trafficking. Photo: RedRadioVE
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/EF/SC
