Spain to ask Venezuela to extradite ETA suspect Cubillas

October 29th 2010

The Spanish vice president Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba on Friday announced that Spain will request the extradition of alleged ETA member Arturo Cubillas to the Venezuelan government.

Cubillas was summoned to testify next December in relation to an ongoing investigation on an alleged collaboration between the Basque terrorist group ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The Spanish government backed its extradition request on Cubillas as he is considered the main suspect in the organization of meetings between FARC and ETA members that served to exchange experiences and military training between both groups.

Cubillas, who also holds a Venezuelan passport, is currently wanted for many offenses, including murder charges. A federal judge ordered on Friday to reopen the criminal case against Cubillas for the assassination of a drug dealer in San Sebastian, Spain, in 1985.

According to Spanish authorities, the meetings set up by Cubillas caused an increase in the relations between both dissident organizations. In July and August 2003, FARC members provided military training to four ETA supporters in Colombian soil.

Also on Friday, Spain announced that they fulfilled the extradition of two ETA members from France. Jesús María Martín Hernando e Ibai Azcona Domínguez were transported to Spain and were charged with terrorism charges among others.

Martín Hernando is accused of being a member of a terrorist organization, auto theft, robbery and use of official documents for terrorist activities. Azcona Domínguez is wanted for participating in a terrorist group and possession of explosives with intent to use them in terrorist acts.