Spain’s Council of Ministers has authorized the advancement of extradition proceedings for Ephraín Enrique Verdú Torrelles, a former officer of Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB). The decision shifts the legal process to the Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s high court, which will now evaluate the request submitted by Argentinian judicial authorities.
Argentina is seeking the custody of Verdú Torrelles to face questioning regarding his alleged role in extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses during the 2014 civil unrest in Venezuela. The request is rooted in the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to prosecute grave international crimes regardless of where they occurred.
Legal Basis for the Extradition Request
The proceedings originate from a criminal complaint filed in June 2023 by InterJust, an international human rights organization. The filing represents family members of individuals allegedly killed by GNB personnel during the 2014 protests, a period marked by documented instances of excessive force, arbitrary detentions, and reports of torture by state security forces. According to the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, these actions constitute potential crimes against humanity.
In September 2024, an Argentinian judge issued arrest warrants for Verdú Torrelles and 13 other GNB officers. Under the Argentinian legal framework, Verdú Torrelles has been formally notified that he is an imputado, meaning he is the subject of an active criminal investigation. While he has not yet been formally charged, his presence in Argentina is required for the court to proceed with questioning and potential indictment.
Broader Accountability Efforts
The pursuit of Verdú Torrelles is part of a wider series of legal actions in Argentina targeting high-ranking Venezuelan officials. In January 2023, the Foro Argentino para la Defensa de la Democracia filed a separate complaint against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and current Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The Argentinian judge presiding over the case has also issued arrest warrants for both men.
These efforts coincide with ongoing international scrutiny of the Venezuelan government. The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a formal investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela in 2021. Meanwhile, Maduro and Cabello are separately facing federal charges in the United States for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons violations. Maduro has been in U.S. Federal custody since January 3, 2025.
The Role of Universal Jurisdiction
Legal experts observe that the case against Verdú Torrelles tests the efficacy of universal jurisdiction within the Spanish judicial system. While Argentina has previously utilized this legal avenue to address international crimes in countries such as Myanmar, Colombia, and Nicaragua, the process relies heavily on international judicial cooperation to secure the physical presence of suspects.
Michelle Reyes Milk, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch, noted that the cooperation between Spanish and Argentinian authorities is critical to the progression of the case. Should the Audiencia Nacional approve the extradition, Verdú Torrelles would become the highest-level official to appear before a court to answer for violations committed during the 2014 Venezuelan crackdown.
Spanish authorities have notified Verdú Torrelles of the pending extradition request, and the matter currently rests with the Audiencia Nacional to determine the next procedural steps.
