On September 8, Spanish Civil Guard officials apprehended two former Venezuelan diplomats at Madrid's Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. The duo is accused of attempting to smuggle 50 kilograms of cocaine into Spain, although this news has only recently emerged in the public domain.
Among the individuals arrested is Kelvin Jesús Matos Pérez, who was previously married into the family of Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of the now-imprisoned former Venezuelan leader currently held in New York. This information was initially reported by El Pitazo and subsequently confirmed by Spanish diplomatic sources to The Objective.
The Arrested Individuals: Background and Connections
The first individual taken into custody is José Rafael Escorihuela Pereira. He arrived in Madrid from the Dominican Republic, carrying a Venezuelan diplomatic passport. Upon interception, Escorihuela claimed to be a functioning diplomat to avoid customs checks, but the ruse failed when officials discovered the illicit substances in his luggage.
Escorihuela was not just any minor official. He had served as the right-hand man to Coromoto Godoy, Venezuela's current permanent representative to the UN. He accompanied Godoy as minister counselor and deputy head of mission in Venezuelan embassies in India and Spain. Reports suggest that during his tenure, Indian businesspeople felt deceived by his alleged role as an intermediary or lobbyist.
Following Godoy's appointment as Minister of Foreign Trade by Maduro in January 2025, Escorihuela took charge of that department in Caracas. Their paths diverged when Delcy Rodríguez, serving as interim president, appointed Godoy as ambassador to the UN in March 2026, after Maduro's arrest in New York.
The second detainee, Kelvin Jesús Matos Pérez, also served in the Venezuelan embassy in Madrid and is related through family ties to Nicolás Maduro Guerra, often referred to as "Nicolasito." The Spanish Civil Guard is investigating whether Matos acted as Escorihuela's contact in Madrid and if additional accomplices are involved.
The Trafficking Route: A Repetitive Pattern
According to sources cited by El Pitazo, Escorihuela is believed to have executed five trips using a consistent method: he would depart Venezuela on private flights carrying drugs, stop over in Santo Domingo, and then proceed to Madrid on commercial flights.
This repetitive travel pattern raised suspicions among Dominican authorities, prompting them to share intelligence with Spain's Civil Guard, ultimately leading to his capture at Barajas Airport. The judicial proceedings remain under strict confidentiality.
César Batiz, director of El Pitazo, reported that "the Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to El Pitazo that the proceedings remain confidential, preventing further details from being disclosed about their involvement in the case."
Chavismo's International Narcotrafficking Under Scrutiny
This incident occurs against the backdrop of increasing international legal pressure on the Chavista regime. Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026, and transported to New York, where he is facing federal charges of narcoterrorism and cocaine importation.
The Southern District of New York's prosecution has expanded its charges to implicate Nicolasito, accusing him of coordinating drug shipments with dissident groups from the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN), and utilizing planes from the state-owned PDVSA to transport illegal cargo.
In December 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned, "There are entities dedicated to drug trafficking operating openly with the Maduro regime's cooperation to send cocaine to the United States via the Caribbean, creating a significant security threat for numerous countries."
On September 15, Alex Saab, a key figure within the Chavista regime, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in a Miami federal court. He agreed to forfeit $195 million and pledged to cooperate with the prosecution by providing information on high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
Frequently Asked Questions about Venezuelan Diplomatic Arrests and Drug Trafficking
Who are the Venezuelan diplomats arrested in Madrid?
The arrested individuals are José Rafael Escorihuela Pereira and Kelvin Jesús Matos Pérez, both former officials associated with the Venezuelan diplomatic service.
What charges are Nicolás Maduro facing in the U.S.?
Nicolás Maduro faces federal charges of narcoterrorism and the importation of cocaine in New York.
What role did Alex Saab play in the Chavista regime?
Alex Saab acted as a key operative within the Chavista regime, later pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and agreeing to cooperate with U.S. authorities.