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| Hugo Carvajal: Venezuelan ex-spy chief arrested in Spain | Hugo Carvajal: Venezuelan ex-spy chief arrested in Spain |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence has been arrested by Spanish police over US drug charges. | The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence has been arrested by Spanish police over US drug charges. |
| The US Justice Department, which originally unsealed the charges in 2014, has requested Hugo Carvajal's extradition. | |
| Mr Carvajal was a close ally of the country's late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, but in February denounced his successor President Nicolás Maduro. | Mr Carvajal was a close ally of the country's late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, but in February denounced his successor President Nicolás Maduro. |
| He has backed Juan Guaido, an opposition figure, as interim leader. | He has backed Juan Guaido, an opposition figure, as interim leader. |
| Mr Guaido declared himself president in January, citing Venezuela's constitution, and has since won the backing of dozens of countries including the US - which is spearheading international pressure on President Maduro. | |
| Despite widespread protests, Mr Maduro has so far largely retained the military's support and also has powerful international allies. | Despite widespread protests, Mr Maduro has so far largely retained the military's support and also has powerful international allies. |
| What is Mr Carvajal accused of? | What is Mr Carvajal accused of? |
| Known as El Pollo (The Chicken), Mr Carvajal was a leading figure in Venezuelan politics for decades. | Known as El Pollo (The Chicken), Mr Carvajal was a leading figure in Venezuelan politics for decades. |
| He has been under US sanctions since 2008, over allegations he helped Colombia's Farc rebel group and protected US-bound drug shipments. | He has been under US sanctions since 2008, over allegations he helped Colombia's Farc rebel group and protected US-bound drug shipments. |
| Federal charges, which accuse him of co-ordinating a 5,600kg (1,235lb) shipment of cocaine from Venezuela to Mexico in 2006, became public in 2014. | |
| That year he was arrested on the charges on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, where he was serving as a consul, but he was freed after the extradition request was denied. | |
| Mr Carvajal returned to Venezuela to a hero's welcome, but publicly broke with the country's leadership earlier this year. | Mr Carvajal returned to Venezuela to a hero's welcome, but publicly broke with the country's leadership earlier this year. |
| In a video posted on social media in February, he publicly threw his support behind Mr Guaido and urged other military figures to do the same. | In a video posted on social media in February, he publicly threw his support behind Mr Guaido and urged other military figures to do the same. |
| An unnamed US administration official has told Reuters news agency that it is hoped Mr Carvajal could co-operate and offer valuable information on the Venezuelan leader. | |
| It is reported that the former spy chief will appear before Spain's High Court on Saturday, where the extradition request will be reviewed. | It is reported that the former spy chief will appear before Spain's High Court on Saturday, where the extradition request will be reviewed. |