US Treasury Department accuses Venezuelan President Maduro of drug trafficking and money laundering in Russia
The United States has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, Maduro's second-in-command in the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, of getting revenue from the drug trade, reported the Voice of America.
The US Treasury Department published a statement indicating that Cabello had confiscated small quantities of drugs from drug traffickers, collected them in a large batch, and exported them through Venezuela's state airport.
"Cabello, along with President Maduro and others, shared the proceeds from drug supply," the statement said.
The money received from drug trafficking was laundered in Costa Rica and Russia.
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Cabello, his wife and his brother. They are also accused of racketeering in addition to participating in drug trafficking.
This is the first time Washington has publicly linked Maduro, who has been sanctioned by the US, to the drug trade, the material says.
The United States imposed sanctions against the President of Venezuela in July 2017.