Néstor Reverol Explained

Néstor Reverol
Office:President of Corpozulia
Term Start:23 April 2024
President:Nicolás Maduro
Predecessor:Federico Guzmán Bornia
Office1:Minister of Electric Power
Term Start1:25 October 2020
Term End1:22 April 2024
President1:Nicolás Maduro
Predecessor1:Freddy Brito Maestre
Successor1:Jorge Elieser Márquez
Office2:Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace
Term Start2:2 August 2016
Term End2:25 October 2020
President2:Nicolás Maduro
Predecessor2:Gustavo González López
Successor2:Carmen Meléndez
Term Start3:5 October 2012
Term End3:3 April 2013
President3:Hugo Chávez
Nicolás Maduro
Predecessor3:Tareck El Aissami
Successor3:Miguel Rodríguez Torres
Office4:Administrator of the Federal Dependencies
Term Start4:2 August 2016
Term End4:25 October 2020
President4:Nicolás Maduro
Predecessor4:Gustavo González López
Successor4:Carmen Meléndez
Office5:Commanding General of the Bolivarian National Guard
Term Start5:27 October 2014
Term End5:8 July 2016
President5:Nicolás Maduro
Predecessor5:Gabriel Oviedo Colmenares
Successor5:Antonio Benavides Torres
Birth Date:October 28, 1964
Birth Place:Cabimas, Venezuela

Néstor Luis Reverol Torres (born 28 October 1964) holds the position of Minister of the People's Power for Interior Relations and Justice of Venezuela and is currently Commander General of the National Guard of Venezuela. On 3 August 2016, he was appointed as interior minister by President Nicolás Maduro.[1] [2]

Education

Reverol was born in the coastal city of Maracaibo, capital of the Zulia state. He studied at the Military Academy of the National Guard, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Military Arts Degree in 1986. He later attended the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, undergoing training with the US Army in 1996.[3]

Controversy

Drug trafficking

In 2016, the United States government has alleged that Reverol was involved in drug trafficking when he was head of the Oficina Nacional Antidrogas (ONA).[4]

Sanctions

Reverol has been sanctioned by several countries and is banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a "close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime".[5] [6]

In July 2017, thirteen senior officials, including Reverol, of the Venezuelan government associated with the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly elections were sanctioned by the United States for their role in undermining democracy and human rights.[7] [8]

Canada sanctioned 40 Venezuelan officials, including Reverol, in September 2017.[9] [10] The sanctions were for behaviors that undermined democracy after at least 125 people will killed in the 2017 Venezuelan protests and "in response to the government of Venezuela's deepening descent into dictatorship".[9] Canadians were banned from transactions with the 40 individuals, whose Canadian assets were frozen.[9]

The European Union sanctioned seven Venezuela officials, including Reverol, on 18 January 2018, singling them out as being responsible for deteriorating democracy in the country.[11] The sanctioned individuals were prohibited from entering the nations of the European Union, and their assets were frozen.[12]

In March 2018, Panama sanctioned 55 public officials, including Reverol,[13] and Switzerland implemented sanctions, freezing the assets of seven ministers and high officials, including Reverol, due to human rights violations and deteriorating rule of law and democracy.[14]

On 20 April 2018, the Mexican Senate froze the assets of officials of the Maduro administration, including Reverol, and prohibited them from entering Mexico.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maduro appoints general as interior minister despite US charges. 3 August 2016. Deutsche Welle.
  2. Web site: Maduro promotes Venezuelan general indicted on drug charges in US. 3 August 2016. The Guardian.
  3. News: Exclusive: U.S. to charge Venezuela's National Guard chief with drug trafficking. 12 April 2017. Open Democracy. 22 October 2020.
  4. News: Exclusive: U.S. to charge Venezuela's National Guard chief with drug trafficking. 12 April 2017. Reuters. 16 December 2016.
  5. News: Maduro encabeza lista de 200 venezolanos que no pueden entrar al país . El Tiempo . es . 13 April 2019 . 30 January 2019 . Maduro tops list of 200 Venezuelans who can not enter the country.
  6. Web site: Primera parte de lista de colaboradores de Maduro que no pueden ingresar a Colombia . RCN Radio . es . 13 April 2019 . 31 January 2019 . First part of list of Maduro collaborators who can not enter Colombia.
  7. Web site: Treasury sanctions target Venezuela president's allies . The Hill . 26 July 2017 . 3 April 2019 . Lane, Sylvan and Rafael Bernal .
  8. Treasury Sanctions 13 Current and Former Senior Officials of the Government of Venezuela . 26 July 2017 . 3 April 2019 . U.S. Department of the Treasury.
  9. News: Canada imposes sanctions on key Venezuelan officials. CBC Canada . 22 September 2017 . Thomson Reuters . 3 April 2019 .
  10. News: Canada sanctions 40 Venezuelans with links to political, economic crisis . The Globe and Mail . Zilio, Michelle . 22 September 2017 . 3 April 2019. Also at Punto de Corte and El Nacional
  11. News: Quiénes son los 7 funcionarios de Venezuela sancionados por la Unión Europea y de qué se les acusa . BBC Mundo . 22 January 2018 . 3 April 2019 . es.
  12. News: EU imposes sanctions on 7 senior Venezuelan officials. Associated Press . 22 January 2018 . 2 April 2019 .
  13. News: Los 55 funcionarios sancionados por Panamá por 'blanqueo de capitales' . El Nacional . es . 30 March 2018 . 3 April 2019 . Also at Panama Economic and Finance Ministry
  14. News: Swiss impose sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials. Reuters . 28 March 2018 . 3 April 2019 . Also at Diario Las Americas
  15. News: Sumarium group. México rechaza elecciones en Venezuela y sanciona a siete funcionarios. 21 April 2018. es. Also at VPITV