Two prominent Venezuelans have been charged in a Miami federal court on drug conspiracy charges.
Former Venezuelan Interpol director Rodolfo McTurk and former judge and attorney Benny Palmeri Bacchi are accused of conspiring with a Colombia drug trafficker to distribute cocaine en route to the United States.
A judge postponed a bond hearing on Thursday.
A third Venezuelan, former head of military intelligence Hugo Carvajal, was arrested in Aruba at the request of U.S. prosecutors. He has been charged in a separate indictment.
The Miami Herald reports that the case marks the first time former high-ranking officials in the government of the late President Hugo Chavez have been linked in federal court to Colombian cartel leaders.
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