The American Bachatero Romeo Santos of Dominican origin in an archive photo. EFE/Orlando Barria
A drug trafficker organized two concerts by renowned artists in Venezuela from prisonThis was reported by the public prosecutor's office on Tuesday, which had initiated an investigation into “irregularities” at one of the lectures.
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A show by the American bachata singer Romeo Santos The scandal was revealed at a military base in Caracas: it was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (00:00 GMT) on Sunday and began at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, when many viewers had already left.
The Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced an investigation into the concert organizers, who had “violated and abused the goodwill of the singer’s fan.”
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And he pointed out that “the initial investigation has shown that the alleged person is responsible for organizing the concert.” Juan Carlos Araujo Duranwho is arrested and prosecuted for being the owner of a plane captured in the Dominican Republic in 2015 containing 459 kilos of cocaine.”
Araujo is serving his sentence for drug trafficking at the El Rodeo II correctional center, about 53 kilometers from Caracas, and, according to Saab, he had “the internal complicity of his place of detention.”
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“He would also have defrauded the organizers of Anuel's concert last March“added the prosecutor, who pointed out that the drug traffickers used these companies to “legitimize capital.”
The director of El Rodeo II “has already been deprived of his freedom due to acts of corruption,” the prosecutor said.
In recent months, the Maduro regime has pushed forward a plan to occupy detention centers to regain control of gangs that use them to coordinate extortion and drug trafficking networks.
Rodeo II is not one of the prisons where intervention occurred.
Romeo Santos apologized to the audience as he took the stage. He said it was “irresponsibility and a lack of respect for you, the audience, my musicians, my technicians and this server.”
“I have had a career of 26 years (…) I have never disrespected my audience, I have never been late,” he noted.
Venezuelan drug trafficker Juan Carlos Araujo Durán
The former director of Solid Show 2050 productions, Juan Carlos Araujo Duranwas sentenced 30 years in prison In 2020 for drug trafficking and money laundering through his entertainment company in Venezuela. Araujo Durán, recognized in the area show And Promoting musical eventsused his company as a front to hide illegal operations Venezuelan justice system.
The Venezuelan Ministry of State explained that the criminal structure led by Araujo Durán was used movable and immovable property, as well as other companies, as a cover for their illegal activities. In addition, the organization had the complicity of Venezuelan officialswho were arrested in connection with these practices. The strategy of unexpectedly canceling concerts and creating difficulties in rescheduling dates was one of the methods to facilitate the transport of large sums of money related to drug trafficking.
Araujo Durán enjoyed wide recognition in Venezuela, especially in the entertainment sector. Since 1996 he has headed his production company, which was one of the most important in the industry Organization of music events, Corporate marketing and promotional marketing in Venezuela. This prestige allowed him to create a network of connections and support that facilitated his criminal activities.
(With information from EFE)