US names Venezuelan VP a major drug trafficker

The United States labelled Venezuela’s Vice President Tareck El Aissami a major drug trafficker Monday, adding the veteran politician to its narcotics “kingpin” sanctions list. The US Treasury accused El Aissami, seen as likely heir to President Nicolas Maduro, of facilitating, of protecting and overseeing large shipments of drugs from Venezuela to Mexico and the United States while serving as the country’s interior minister and governor of Aragua state.