Verónica Alcocer denies drug-trafficking links following accusations over Venezuela trips
The former Colombian first lady rejected allegations of drug trafficking on official aircraft. She claims her trip to Venezuela was to learn about the children's orchestral system.
Alcocer refutes drug-trafficking accusations and defends cultural purpose of Venezuela trip
Verónica Alcocer flatly rejected allegations linking her to alleged transport of narcotics to Venezuela, according to pulzo.com. In an interview with Noticias RCN, the former Colombian first lady asserted she had never had any connection to drug trafficking or any form of drug smuggling.
"It is a total lie. I have never in my life, never in my life had anything to do with drugs, or trafficking, or anything else," Alcocer stated during the interview.
The accusations were made by Eva Ferrer, who for years was part of Alcocer's inner circle and also held a position as presidential adviser in the government of Gustavo Petro. Ferrer publicly stated that on several trips to Venezuela, drugs and cash had allegedly been transported aboard official aircraft.
Among Ferrer's claims is a purported transfer of 2.5 million dollars which, according to her account, were allegedly intended to finance a political campaign. She also mentioned alleged irregularities related to resources and people in the former first lady's circle.
Alcocer denied these claims and questioned the intention behind their disclosure. "They have made any number of lying stories, I do not know with what intention," she stated. During the interview, she also presented a document with which she seeks to support her explanation regarding the purpose of her trips.
Regarding the specific reason for one of her trips to the neighbouring country, the former first lady maintained that her agenda focused on the Venezuelan orchestral system, widely recognised for its musical work with children and young people.
"The purpose of that trip was to fulfil an agenda in Venezuela to learn firsthand about the orchestral system of Venezuela, which is so famous worldwide for children and young people," she explained to Noticias RCN.
Alcocer added that the interest in this model of musical education had precedents in Gustavo Petro's management as mayor of Bogotá. "It is a public system that Gustavo Petro at some point as mayor wanted to implement and wanted to take up the case again to see if it could be implemented again here," she indicated.
The former first lady thus presented an explanation of a cultural nature, linked to the possibility of adopting in Colombia a publicly-funded musical education model of international reference.
Ferrer's allegations constitute accusations that must be investigated and clarified by the competent authorities, and do not in themselves represent demonstrated criminal responsibility.
Source: Google News VE — Crime