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Spain Rejects US Extradition Request for Ex-Venezuelan Spy Chief

VOA News

   Spain's high court has rejected a U.S. extradition request for
   Venezuela's ex-spy chief.

   Former major general Hugo Carvajal is wanted in the United States on
   charges of helping Colombian rebels smuggle drugs into the U.S. He
   denies the charges.

   Spain's top court said the extradition request was politically
   motivated and failed to name any "concrete and precise" crimes he may
   have committed to justify sending him to the U.S.

   Carvajal was Venezuelan intelligence chief under the late president
   Hugo Chavez and, briefly, under current President Nicolas Maduro.

   Carvajal backs the Venezuelan opposition efforts to topple Maduro. He
   fled to Madrid in April and says he will continue to support efforts to
   drive Maduro from power.

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