Venezuela leader condemns ‘imperialist’ attacks after drug arrests

According to that document, made public on Thursday, Campo Flores and Flores de Freitas conspired along with other people to smuggle at least five kilos of cocaine into the United States. In spite of the fact that Venezuela has a couple of times blamed the United States for intruding in its issues, ties between the two nations have enhanced since coming to a low point in March, when the USA forced authorizations on various Venezuelan authorities for asserted human rights manhandle.

They were arrested at a hotel in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince after a reported “lengthy undercover operation” Michael Vigil, a former head of global operations at the DEA told the Associated Press news agency. According to the AP, both men were carrying diplomatic passports at the time of their arrest, but do not have diplomatic immunity.

He also said Campos had claimed to law enforcement that he is the son of Venezuela’s first lady Cilia Flores and stepson of Maduro.

The first woman elected to lead Venezuela’s National Assembly, Flores is seen as one of the most powerful members of the country’s revolutionary government.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday lashed out at those making “reckless accusations” against his country in an address at the UN Human Rights Council, a speech the U.S. called “an affront” to the body.

The exiled coordinator of Popular Will, Carlos Vecchio, petitioned The Hague-based ICC, saying the move was necessary because Venezuela’s judicial system had become a “government tool”.

Venezuela holds legislative elections in December, and with Maduro’s popularity plummeting, political analysts say the opposition could make major gains.

As the price of oil has spiraled to record lows this year, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has struggled to hang on to power.

The US State Department said in a report in March corruption in Venezuela facilitates drug smuggling, and it implicated high-ranking Venezuelan government officials in the trade.

A group of 50 Venezuelan and global human rights activists, including Lilian Tintori, the wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, had asked the member countries of the United Nations to boycott the special session.

Maduro, who was by then Chavez’s vice president, was tapped to succeed the charismatic socialist.

Venezuela’s Communications Ministry and Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the arrests. On Wednesday, Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly – and reportedly also under investigation – generally denounced U.S. attempts to undermine the government. About a third of all the cocaine from Colombia goes through Venezuela, which is about 200 tons every year, The Guardian reported.