Sanctions targeting Venezuela may have stopped the flow of oil to the United States, but they have done little to impede the traffic of another lucrative product—cocaine.
As Venezuela continued to face a political and financial crisis caused by internal mismanagement and external intervention, the situation has left the international community's allegiances polarized and its drug trade booming. "Faced with the resounding failure of Colombia and the U.S. in the fight against drug trafficking and Trump's claims to [Colombian President Iván] Duque, they appeal to the recycled strategy of trying to distract public opinion towards Venezuela. Be serious!" Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeted Wednesday.
Maduro's own family has been tied by the U.S. to the cocaine trade as well, with First Lady Cilia Flores' two nephews arrested in 2015 in Haiti and later found guilty of attempting to traffic nearly a ton of cocaine into the U.S. But the Venezuelan leader has also overseen the destruction of numerous secret drug labs near the country's border with Colombia.
Cuba, in particular, has offered its support for Venezuela as the Cold War-era U.S. foe was one of many leftist movements also targeted by Washington's intervention in Latin America. On Wednesday, Havana was hit with new measures announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo allowing citizens to sue foreign companies for a projected $8 billion worth of property and assets allegedly confiscated by the communist-led government since the revolution that overthrew a U.S.-backed leadership in 1959.
the wisdom of trump and the trumpsters win again
WHAT!? The rich mans' favorite drug is not affected by sanctions? Party on!
If there is demand there is supply. War on drugs is NOT like the game of the chicken & the egg, it really does not mater what was first. The point is attack the supplier, price will go up, some one will make more till new suppliers appear with lower cost. Follow the money trail
Sanctions by U.S. never really achieve what they are meant for. In Zimbabwe prices of goods are soaring but the targeted Zanu Pf bigwigs always fill up their trollies to the brim.
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