A New Twist on Venezuela and The Real World
Segment #705
Media pundits, bloggers, and posters are all opining obviously on what they know… not what they don’t . Politicians presumably know more depending on your security clearances. The latter group opines usually on a partisan basis. All are quick to second guess the president who must make the tough decisions. I note this now because the information below significantly changes the rationale for going after Venezuela and seriously undermines the Biden administration foreign policy strategy of appeasement.
The point is that a well informed individual must at least consider what they don’t know and what could be the rationale for decisions made at the highest level that seemingly make no sense. Trump and the right are never afforded this respect and courtesy even when facts later prove them right.
Yes, this claim is based on a real development reported in early December 2025. Hugo Carvajal Barrios (known as "El Pollo" Carvajal), a retired Venezuelan major general and former director of military intelligence under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, sent a letter to President Donald Trump from U.S. federal prison.Carvajal, who pleaded guilty earlier in 2025 to U.S. charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, wrote the letter "to atone" and provide information. In it, he explicitly warns of a long-standing Venezuelan spy network operating inside the United States:
"For twenty years, the Venezuelan regime sent spies into your country—many are still there, some disguised as members of the Venezuelan opposition."
He claims Cuban intelligence (closely allied with Venezuela) showed him their networks inside U.S. naval bases on the East Coast and bragged about sending thousands of spies over decades, some of whom are now "career politicians."
He further alleges that some U.S. diplomats and CIA officers were bribed to help Chávez and Maduro stay in power.
The letter was first published exclusively by the Dallas Express on December 3, 2025, and shared by Carvajal's attorney. It has since been covered by outlets including the Miami Herald, RSBN, Cuba Headlines, Latin Times, and Euronews. Carvajal describes the Maduro regime as a "narco-terrorist organization" waging war on the U.S. through drugs (via the "Cartel of the Suns"), exported gangs like Tren de Aragua, espionage, and other means.
These are serious allegations from a high-level defector with insider knowledge, but they remain unverified by independent sources or U.S. intelligence agencies in public statements. Carvajal's cooperation may be part of his plea deal, and investigators would likely seek corroboration. The letter aligns with ongoing U.S. concerns about Venezuelan migration, drug trafficking, and gangs, amid heightened tensions (including U.S. military actions in the Caribbean targeting alleged narco-vessels).A second former Venezuelan official,
Cliver Alcalá Cordones, reportedly sent a similar letter shortly afterward with overlapping claims. The story gained traction on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) in early December 2025.
Details in the Letter
Clíver Antonio Alcalá Cordones, a retired Venezuelan Major General and former high-ranking commander under Hugo Chávez, sent a letter dated December 8, 2025, to President Donald Trump from U.S. federal prison. This follows a similar letter from Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal earlier in the month.Alcalá, serving a 21-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges related to providing material support to the FARC (including arms trafficking), presents the letter as an offer of cooperation to share information relevant to U.S. national security. The document was provided to The Dallas Express through a member of his legal team and published exclusively on December 8, 2025. It has since been covered by outlets including the Miami Herald, La Patilla, Gateway Hispanic, PJ Media, and others.
Key Allegations in the Letter
Alcalá describes the Maduro regime as a criminal enterprise centered on the Cartel de los Soles (a network of military and civilian officials involved in drug trafficking).
Real Power Brokers — He claims siblings Jorge Rodríguez (President of the National Assembly) and Delcy Rodríguez (Vice President) are the "true Machiavellian masterminds" behind the cartel and the regime's operations, operating with a low public profile while controlling Nicolás Maduro and figures like Diosdado Cabello.
Tren de Aragua — Alcalá alleges Maduro "exported" the prison gang Tren de Aragua to destabilize neighboring countries and the United States, using Venezuelan migrants as cover. He claims former Sports Minister Antonio "Potro" Álvarez coordinated directly with gang leaders in prisons (e.g., Tocorón) on behalf of the government.
Electoral Fraud — Most Venezuelan elections have been manipulated, according to Alcalá. He accuses General Carlos Quintero (vice president of the CNE) of overseeing fraud using parallel Smartmatic systems to alter results in unobserved areas.
Drug Trafficking and Illegal Mining — Linked revenue streams from cocaine trafficking and illegal mining in the Orinoco Mining Arc, with gold and diamonds used for money laundering. He implicates Maduro's son, Nicolás "Nicolasito" Maduro Guerra, in supervising mining operations.
Foreign Alliances — Deepened ties with Iran, including the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and Hezbollah. Alcalá also mentions Venezuelan officials boasting (as early as 2007) about influence over certain U.S. lawmakers (without naming specifics).
Prisons as Criminal Hubs — Venezuelan prisons were turned into bases for government-facilitated crime, including vote manipulation and external operations.
Alcalá expresses regret for past actions (e.g., following Chávez's orders to arm the FARC), states he requested retirement upon Maduro's rise seeing a "criminal gang leader" taking power, and offers to testify before U.S. authorities on these and other matters.
Context and Caveats
These are serious allegations from a former insider, aligning with long-standing U.S. concerns about Venezuelan narco-trafficking, gangs, and corruption (e.g., U.S. indictments against Maduro and designations of Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization). However, they remain unverified by independent sources or official U.S. statements as of December 14, 2025. Alcalá's cooperation may relate to his sentencing or plea deal, and outlets like The Dallas Express note they have not independently confirmed the claims.Unlike Carvajal's letter, which explicitly warned of a Venezuelan/Cuban spy network inside the U.S., Alcalá's focuses more on internal regime structure, criminal exports (like Tren de Aragua), and threats to U.S. security via drugs and destabilization, without directly alleging embedded spies in America.