US probes Venezuela top figures for alleged drug ties

World Today

Reports say U.S. authorities are investigating top figures in Venezuela’s government for alleged drug ties. According to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, the man at the center is Diosdado Cabello. Cabello is the leader of the National Assembly and the country’s second most powerful figure after President Nicolas Maduro. CCTV America’s Martin Markovits has more from Caracas.

More details:

  • Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have flared in recent months and it comes after U.S. sanctions were placed on high-ranking government officials in March. President Nicolas Maduro denounced these new allegations as another part of a right-wing campaign to destabilize Venezuela.
  •  In recent years many cocaine shipments have been intercepted from Venezuela, and high-ranking officials have been black-listed by the U.S. government for alleged drug ties. But analysts say these latest claims raise the stakes to a new level.
  •  Already facing the world’s highest inflation and rampant crime, these new drug trafficking allegations could further challenge the ruling Socialist party of Nicolas Maduro ahead of key parliamentary elections later this year.