The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) granted freedom unto a presumed Dominican drug-trafficker when making his extradition to the United States null and void, for lack of assurances of a conviction under 30 years, as established in the Constitution, a press release of the court reported.

The TSJ Criminal Cassation Court resolved "cessation of the extradition agreed upon with regard to Mateo Juan Holguín Ovalle (...) in connection with a number of charges related to drug traffic and distribution of illicit drugs in different US cities," AFP quoted.

In November 2003, a court issued a bench warrant against Ovalle, who was detained during an anti-drug operation in western Barinas state.

Months later, the TSJ Criminal Cassation Court authorized in 2004 Ovalle's extradition requested by a federal court in Columbia, United States, provided that the sentence should not exceed 30 years, as set forth in the Venezuelan Constitution.

However, "US government authorities have consistently said that they cannot provide assurances as to the number of years in the sentence to be imposed on the defendant in case of conviction," the court explained.

As a result, the court resolved to "safeguard the defendant's constitutional rights and stop the extradition procedure."