Who is Carvajal aka "El Pollo" and why does Minister Timmermans order his release?

Not many people had unfettered direct access to Hugo Chavez. Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios aka "El Pollo" (the chicken) did have this. As head of the military intelligence service, he had unlimited resources at his disposal to accomplish his goals. In recent years, several pieces of evidence have surfaced showing that Carvajal had ties to the FARC and Colombian and Venezuelan cartels in addition to using military personnel to transport drugs. Last week, at America's request, Carvajal was arrested in Aruba. Meanwhile, Timmermans yesterday -against a ruling by Chief Judge Yvonne van Wersch- ordered his release and Carvajal has since returned to Venezuela where he has been received as a hero.

Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios was head of the military intelligence service and a confidant of Hugo Chavez between 2004 and 2009. Carvajal was involved with Chavez from day one. In 2008, among others, Carvajal and several others were accused by America of supporting the FARC with the transportation of Drugs, this was denied by Chavez at the time. The disclosure from the Americans came a day after America's ambassador was forced to leave Venezuela because of the U.S. Embassy's alleged involvement in supporting the opposition to Hugo Chavez. Among other things, Carvajal is suspected of having given false identity cards to members of the FARC and Cartels, preventing drug seizures, supporting the transportation of drugs. In addition, he is alleged to have ordered the murder of two people.

Last week, at the request of the Americans, Carvajal was arrested in Aruba with the request for extradition. Carvajal was on his way to Aruba to be installed as Consul General. He was traveling with a diplomatic passport but did not yet officially hold the position of Consul General. Immediately after his arrest, Maduro and the government of Venezuela reacted vehemently to his arrest. Holland was said to be breaking the law. Venezuela immediately took sanctions by banning all air traffic from the islands to Venezuela and vice versa. This sanction was reversed the same day. In addition, the government of Venezuela stepped up the pressure by threatening more sanctions and sent the navy to Aruba.

On July 25, Magistrate Judge Yvonne van Wersch ruled that Carvajal did not enjoy diplomatic immunity, saying "she would not be pressured by anyone and stood by her decision." Carvajal remained detained.

Yesterday, Carvajal was released from the KIA prison where he had been held for the previous four days. During a press conference last Sunday, Aruban Minister of Justice Artur Dowers and Chief Public Prosecutor Peter Blanken announced that Dutch Foreign Minister Timmermans had ordered Carvajal's release. In addition to the release of Carvajal -because he will enjoy immunity- it was immediately decided that he is a persona non grata and will not be welcome in Aruba for the rest of his life. This ruling goes right against the ruling of Chief Judge Yvonne van Wersch; it is unclear at the moment how Timmermans made this decision and/or whether he was allowed to make it. Whites called Timmermans' choice "Surprising."

Carvajal was immediately picked up by a private plane after which he was met upon his return home by his own family n Maduro's family. He was received as a hero in Venezuela