Gendarme Nahuel Gallo, recently released by the Venezuelan government, is returning to the country on a private flight managed by Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia on behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and jointly with the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF). The flight departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport (Caracas) at 5:51 local time (4:51 in Argentina). At the time of this report, it was flying over the Neiva area in Colombia, with its estimated arrival in Buenos Aires after midnight, according to the Argentine News Agency (NA) from aviation sources. Gallo is being transported in a Lear Jet 60, registration LV-KMA, which Tapia usually uses for his movements, both for matters related to his position at AFA and for private circumstances. It is a large private jet, habitually used for official transfers of football leadership and has served as a vehicle for this humanitarian mission. This aircraft was also previously used by Fred Machado, who is detained and prosecuted in the United States for drug trafficking, money laundering, and fraud linked to the air transport of drugs. If there are no adverse weather or technical issues, the landing is expected to occur between 00:30 and 02:30 on Monday, March 2. The plane will land at Ezeiza and will be transferred to the FBO area, where private flights arrive. Tapia, as the head of the AFA, used the solid institutional relationship with the FVF and its president to intercede with the provisional government headed by Delcy Rodríguez. Although Tapia could not travel personally due to a judicial exit ban from the country (recently ratified by Argentine justice), he delegated the mission to Nakis and Isla Casares. Along with Gallo, Luciano Nakis (AFA Prosecretary and President of the Armenian Sports Club), who was one of those in charge of receiving Gallo after his release from prison and accompanying him on board, and Fernando Isla Casares (AFA Secretary of Protocol and Ceremonial), who was part of the official delegation in Caracas that coordinated the logistical aspects of the return, are reportedly traveling. The AFA, through its social networks, thanked President Delcy Rodríguez for her management to facilitate Gallo's transfer.
