Politically connected Venezuelan cocaine trafficker receives life sentence plus 30 years after landmark US prosecution

Rochester, New York – A Venezuelan drug trafficker with deep political connections and a long reach across the Americas has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, plus an additional 30 years, after a sweeping federal prosecution in New York exposed the scale of his cocaine empire and the corruption that helped sustain it for nearly two decades.

Carlos Orense Azocar, described by U.S. authorities as one of the most prolific cocaine traffickers ever prosecuted in the Southern District of New York, received the sentence following a two-week jury trial that concluded in December 2023. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, closing a case that federal officials say revealed how narcotics trafficking, political influence, and armed violence were tightly intertwined.

The announcement was made jointly by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton and Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance C. Cole. Prosecutors said the sentence reflects not only the volume of drugs involved, but also the damage caused by a criminal network that relied on bribery, intimidation, and government protection to move cocaine into the United States.

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“Carlos Orense Azocar is one of the most prolific cocaine traffickers ever sentenced in this courthouse, responsible for the distribution of hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Orense Azocar and his co-conspirators, including high-ranking government and military officials, inflicted incalculable damage on this community. Alongside our partners at the Bilateral Investigations Unit of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, we are committed to ending the exploitation of the American people by drug cartels and the governments who enable them.”

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Orense Azocar’s criminal operation began around 2003 and grew steadily in size and sophistication. Over the years, he became a central figure in a drug trafficking organization responsible for moving massive quantities of cocaine from South America toward the United States, often in shipments measuring hundreds or even thousands of kilograms.

The cocaine originated primarily in Venezuela and Colombia and was moved along multiple routes. Prosecutors detailed how Orense Azocar used both air and sea corridors, sending shipments to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and other transit points across the Caribbean. From there, the drugs continued north, ultimately destined for U.S. markets.

At the heart of his operation were large ranches, known locally as fincas, scattered across Venezuela. These properties served as storage hubs and launch points for trafficking missions. Authorities said cocaine was hidden in underground tanks, while weapons and ammunition were stockpiled on-site. Several of the ranches also contained clandestine airstrips, allowing small aircraft to take off undetected while carrying loads of cocaine.

Maritime routes were equally important. Orense Azocar used high-speed “go-fast” boats to move cocaine from the Venezuelan coastline to handoff locations throughout the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic and areas near Puerto Rico. These boats were chosen for their speed and ability to evade patrols, prosecutors said.

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What set Orense Azocar apart from many other traffickers, authorities emphasized, was the level of protection he received from within the Venezuelan state. Evidence showed that he paid bribes to senior figures across multiple branches of government. These included military generals, army officers, national police commissioners, and high-ranking intelligence officials.

Those connections provided crucial advantages. Prosecutors said corrupt officials helped secure military-grade weapons, shielded Orense Azocar from raids, and ensured safe passage for drug convoys through checkpoints. In some cases, fraudulent aircraft transponder codes were arranged, allowing cocaine-laden planes to depart Venezuela without raising alarms as they flew toward Central America and Mexico.

In addition to government ties, Orense Azocar partnered with armed guerrilla groups operating in Colombia and Venezuela. These alliances helped him source cocaine and move it safely through remote or heavily contested territory. Over time, authorities estimate, his organization distributed hundreds of tons of cocaine and generated tens of millions of dollars in profits.

Violence and firepower played a central role in protecting that empire. Prosecutors detailed how Orense Azocar maintained heavily armed security teams at his ranches and during his travel. He moved in armored vehicles, surrounded by guards, and relied on armed escorts, including corrupt military and police units, to protect cocaine shipments.

The weapons involved were extensive. Court filings described automatic rifles, submachine guns, and handguns altered to fire automatically. Among the most serious weapons cited was a mounted .50-caliber machine gun, highlighting the level of force available to the organization.

DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole said the sentence sends a strong message to traffickers who believe political influence can shield them from accountability.

“Carlos Orense Azocar was a criminal kingpin who built an empire on deception, fraud, and bribery,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole. “Orense Azocar’s close ties to the Venezuelan government provided resources to help him evade law enforcement and move massive shipments of cocaine across the Western Hemisphere. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: DEA will relentlessly pursue and hold international drug traffickers accountable, no matter how far they run or how powerful they believe themselves to be.”

Bringing Orense Azocar to justice required years of international coordination. He was ultimately arrested overseas and extradited to the United States from Italy in June 2022. U.S. officials credited close cooperation with Italian authorities for making the extradition possible.

Clayton praised the work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, along with the agency’s Rome Country Office and Miami Field Division. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Southern District of New York’s Digital Forensics Unit and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

The prosecution was handled by the National Security and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Michael D. Lockard, and Kevin T. Sullivan leading the case.

With the life sentence now imposed, federal officials say the case stands as one of the most significant narcotics prosecutions in recent years, illustrating how global drug trafficking networks operate and how deeply corruption can undermine national institutions. For U.S. authorities, the outcome represents both a major legal victory and a warning to others operating at the highest levels of international drug trade.