All About Walid Makled

INVESTIGATIONS

The Paraguaná Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Political Power in Venezuela

CARTEL OF THE SUNS / 2 MAY 2022

On April 3, 2021, police in the east Venezuelan state of Anzoátegui acted on a tip-off to intercept a silver Toyota Corolla. They interrogated the driver, a middle-aged woman accompanied…

Key Criminal Revelations From Former Venezuela Intelligence Chief

CARTEL OF THE SUNS / 25 FEB 2019

The former head of Venezuela’s military intelligence service has revealed some key details that confirm longstanding links between several officials in the regime of President Nicolás Maduro with organized crime…

Venezuela Drug Trafficker Turned Informant Sentenced: Lightly

ELITES AND CRIME / 11 FEB 2015

Notorious Venezuela drug trafficker Walid Makled has been sentenced to 14 years in prison but absolved of several crimes in what is a surprisingly lenient verdict considering both the charges…

Venezuela Claims Capture of 94 Crime Bosses Since 2006

VENEZUELA / 23 NOV 2012

Venezuela's Interior and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol said that with the latest capture of a Colombian drug trafficker in Venezuelan territory, the country has arrested 94 crime bosses…

Walid Makled

VENEZUELA / SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Once the most powerful civilian drug trafficker in Venezuela, Syrian-born Venezuelan citizen Walid Makled, otherwise known as El Turco or El Arabe, managed cocaine shipments that left the country by…

5 Things to Watch Out for in Venezuelan Kingpin’s Trial

VENEZUELA / 8 AUG 2012

Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled claims to have damning evidence of the military and government elite's ties to the drug trade. Three months in, his trial has offered few explosive…

Trial of Venezuelan Kingpin Makled Begins Behind Closed Doors

CARTEL OF THE SUNS / 10 APR 2012

The trial of Walid Makled, a drug kingpin who claims that he worked with Venezuela's political and military elite, has started in a closed courtroom in Caracas, fuelling concerns he…

Colombia Extradites Makled to Venezuela

COLOMBIA / 9 MAY 2011

Colombia has extradited drug kingpin Walid Makled to face trial in his native country Venezuela.

Colombia to Extradite Makled on Weekend

CARTEL OF THE SUNS / 6 MAY 2011

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin announced that Walid Makled's extradition to Venezuela would be completed by May 9, El Nacional reports. Makled's extradition was approved by…

InSight: Makled's Window into Trafficking in Venezuela Closing

CARTEL OF THE SUNS / 19 APR 2011

In the coming days, President Santos is expected to extradite alleged drug trafficker Walid Makled to Venezuela, instead of the U.S. With him not only goes Colombia’s traditional foreign policy…

Video - Venezuelan Drug Tycoon Claims Links to Chavez Government

CARTEL OF THE SUNS / 4 APR 2011

As it becomes more and more likely that Colombia will extradite drug kingpin Walid Makled to Venezuela instead of the U.S., Makled has stepped up his accusations of corruption within…

Hugo Chavez: US Wants Makled to 'Vomit' Accusations

FARC / 22 NOV 2010

InSight Crime translates an excerpt from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's weekly column, "Las Lineas de Chávez," in which Chavez speaks of Colombia's decision to extradite alleged Venezuelan drug trafficker Walid…

One Piece of a Puzzle: the US Indictment of Makled

WALID MAKLED / 19 NOV 2010

The curious case of Walid Makled Garcia, a Syrian-born Venezuelan citizen who is in a Colombian jail for drug trafficking, has many trails. InSight Crime gives you one here: the…

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Venezuela's Cocaine Revolution Met With Uproar

6 MAY 2022

On May 4, InSight Crime launched its latest investigation, Venezuela’s Cocaine Revolution¸ accompanied by a virtual panel on its findings. The takeaways from this three-year effort, including the fact that Venezuela…

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Venezuela Drug Trafficking Investigation and InDepth Gender Coverage

29 APR 2022

On May 4, InSight Crime will be publishing The Cocaine Revolution in Venezuela, a groundbreaking investigation into how the Venezuelan government regulates the cocaine trade in the country. An accompanying event,…

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InDepth Coverage of Juan Orlando Hernández

22 APR 2022

Ever since Juan Orlando Hernández was elected president of Honduras in 2014, InSight Crime has provided coverage of every twist and turn during his rollercoaster time in office, amid growing…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Cocaine Revolution

15 APR 2022

On May 4th, InSight Crime will publish a groundbreaking investigation on drug trafficking in Venezuela. A product of three years of field research across the country, the study uncovers cocaine production in…

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Widespread Coverage of InSight Crime MS13 Investigation

8 APR 2022

In a joint investigation with La Prensa Gráfica, InSight Crime recently revealed that four of the MS13’s foremost leaders had been quietly released from…

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