Former Venezuelan Diplomats Arrested for Cocaine Smuggling at Madrid Airport
Spanish authorities arrest ex-Venezuelan diplomats for smuggling 50kg cocaine into Spain, linking case to Maduro family and drug trafficking networks.
4 min read
In a significant international law enforcement operation, Spanish authorities have arrested two former Venezuelan diplomats at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport for smuggling approximately 50 kilograms of cocaine into Spain. The arrests, made by the Spanish Civil Guard, have drawn attention to the individuals’ deep ties to Venezuela’s former diplomatic corps and the Maduro family.
Detained for Smuggling Narcotics
The detainees are José Rafael Escorihuela Pereira, the former deputy head of the Venezuelan embassy in Madrid, and Kelvin Jesús Matos Pérez, a former embassy official and ex-brother-in-law of Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Escorihuela attempted to evade customs inspection on September 8 by claiming active diplomatic status, but Spanish authorities discovered the narcotics in his luggage.
The arrests, which were revealed weeks later, have drawn attention to the detainees’ connections to Venezuela’s former diplomatic corps and the Maduro family. Spanish law enforcement is investigating whether Matos Pérez acted as an intermediary for Escorihuela and whether other individuals participated in the alleged smuggling operation.
Background and Career of Escorihuela
Escorihuela previously served as a close associate of Coromoto Godoy Calderón, Venezuela’s permanent representative to the United Nations. He accompanied Godoy as minister counselor and deputy head of mission at the Venezuelan embassies in India and Spain. During his time in India, Escorihuela was accused of misleading business leaders while acting as an intermediary or lobbyist.
In January 2025, Maduro appointed Godoy as minister of foreign trade, and Escorihuela subsequently took charge of the department in Caracas. Their career paths diverged in March 2026, when interim President Delcy Rodríguez appointed Godoy as Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations following Maduro’s arrest by the U.S. Military under orders from President Donald Trump on January 3.
Matos Pérez and Family Ties
Matos Pérez also served at the Venezuelan Embassy in Madrid. His former marriage to a sister of Maduro Guerra, widely known as “Nicolasito,” has brought additional scrutiny to the case. According to sources cited by Venezuelan news outlet El Pitazo, Escorihuela allegedly completed five trips using the same trafficking route. He reportedly departed Venezuela on private flights carrying drugs, stopped in Santo Domingo, and then continued to Madrid on commercial flights.
The repeated travel patterns raised suspicions among Dominican authorities, who shared intelligence with Spain’s Civil Guard, which led investigators to monitor Escorihuela and eventually arrest him in Madrid.
Investigation and Judicial Secrecy
The judicial proceedings remain confidential. El Pitazo director César Batiz said the Civil Guard confirmed that the investigation remained under judicial secrecy, preventing officials from disclosing further details about the suspects’ alleged involvement.
International Legal Scrutiny of Venezuela
The arrests come amid mounting international legal scrutiny of Venezuela’s former leadership and allegations of drug trafficking involving individuals associated with the Maduro government. Meanwhile, Maduro is currently awaiting a hearing in New York, where he faces federal charges related to narcoterrorism and cocaine importation.
U.S. prosecutors have also pursued allegations involving Maduro Guerra, accusing him of coordinating drug shipments with dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). The allegations include claims that he used aircraft belonging to Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), to transport illegal narcotics.
Statements from U.S. Officials
In December 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that drug-trafficking organizations operated with the cooperation of the Maduro government to move cocaine through the Caribbean toward the United States, describing the activity as a security threat to multiple countries.
On September 15, Alex Saab, a prominent figure associated with the Maduro government, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in federal court in Miami. Saab agreed to forfeit $195 million and cooperate with prosecutors by providing information about senior Venezuelan officials.
Ongoing Investigation
Spanish authorities continue to investigate the alleged smuggling operation, including the roles of the two former diplomats and the possibility of additional accomplices.
These developments underscore the ongoing legal and diplomatic tensions surrounding Venezuela’s former leadership and their alleged involvement in drug trafficking networks. The case highlights the international reach of these illicit activities and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to dismantle such operations.
Source: PJ Media
