Venezuela’s Vice-President Tareck El Aissami on Tuesday called his blacklisting by the United States on drug charges an “imperialist aggression” in the first bilateral flare-up under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We shall not be distracted by these miserable provocations,” he added in a series of tweets. “Truth is invincible and we will see this vile aggression dispelled.”
The U.S. Department of Treasury on Monday sanctioned Mr. El Aissami and Samark Lopez, whom it identified as his associate, on accusations of masterminding an international network shipping drugs to Mexico and the United States.
Mr. Lopez also said the listings appeared politically motivated. “Mr. Lopez is not a government official and has not engaged in drug trafficking,” he said in a statement on his website describing himself as a “legitimate businessman”.
President Nicolas Maduro’s government has frequently cast U.S. and opposition accusations of drug-trafficking, corruption and human rights abuses as a false pretext to justify meddling in Venezuela and a push to topple him.
Venezuelan opposition groups have long accused Mr. El Aissami of repressing dissent, participating in drug trafficking rings, and supporting militant groups such as Hezbollah.
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that Mr. El Aissami controlled drug routes by air and sea.
The U.S. Treasury Department said Mr. El Aissami oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1,000 kg from Venezuela on multiple occasions. — Reuters
