Venezuela Finally Locates and Deports Montesinos to Peru

On June 24, 2001, after an eight month search, the Venezuelan Government finally located, arrested, and within 24 hours deported to Peru Vladimiro Montesinos, the former director of intelligence for Peru. During a meeting of Andean regional leaders Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced the arrest. Long believed a secret ally of Mr. Montesinos, Mr. Chávez was criticized for allegedly protecting Mr. Montesinos, especially in view of reports that Montesinos was in Venezuela since December seeking plastic surgery and then hiding out at a ranch owned by a Venezuelan tycoon associated with the Venezuelan interior minister in the province of Barinas, protected by 100 guards…[more]