WILLEMSTAD – A federal indictment against Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López remains active in the United States, with authorities continuing to seek his arrest on drug trafficking charges.
The case dates back to 2020, when U.S. prosecutors formally charged Padrino López in a federal court in Washington, D.C. with conspiracy to traffic cocaine into the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the indictment alleges that he collaborated with others between 2014 and 2019 to facilitate drug shipments, including allowing certain aircraft carrying narcotics to pass through Venezuelan airspace in exchange for bribes.
The case has not been dismissed or closed and remains legally active. U.S. authorities continue to classify Padrino López as a wanted individual under their narcotics enforcement framework.
As part of this effort, the U.S. government is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The charges against Padrino López are part of a broader set of cases targeting senior figures within the Venezuelan government, often referred to by U.S. authorities as a “narco-structure” linked to cocaine trafficking networks.
While some high-profile cases have progressed—most notably the prosecution of other Venezuelan officials—the case against Padrino López remains in a pre-trial phase. He has not been arrested or brought before a U.S. court, meaning judicial proceedings have not advanced.
As long as he remains outside U.S. custody, the case is effectively in a pending status, with legal action contingent on arrest or extradition.
The continued existence of the indictment underscores ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas, particularly regarding allegations of drug trafficking and organized crime at the highest levels of government.
For now, the case remains unresolved, with U.S. authorities maintaining both legal charges and financial incentives aimed at securing his capture.