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The Manhattan US Attorney office today announced narco-terrorism charges against embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as well as current and former officials of his government, among them Joselit Ramirez Camacho, Venezuela’s superintendent of cryptocurrency (Sunacrip).
The US accuses Maduro and his associates of conspiring with Colombian rebel group FARC to illegally smuggle cocaine into the US.
“The Venezuelan regime, once led by Nicolás Maduro Moros, remains plagued by criminality and corruption. For more than 20 years, Maduro and a number of high-ranking colleagues allegedly conspired with the FARC, causing tons of cocaine to enter and devastate American communities," said Barr, while also noting that the US does not officially recognize Maduro as Venezuela's president. "The United States will not allow these corrupt Venezuelan officials to use the U.S. banking system to move their illicit proceeds from South America nor further their criminal schemes.”
Alysa D. Erichs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Acting Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations, said, "Today’s announcement highlights HSI’s global reach and commitment to aggressively identify, target and investigate individuals who violate U.S. laws, exploit financial systems, and hide behind cryptocurrency to further their illicit criminal activity."