Venezuela's Sailor Sentenced in US for Smuggling Cocaine
The United States Justice Department announced on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, that a Venezuelan sailor was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in a cocaine smuggling operation.
The sailor, identified as Jose Luis Morales, was arrested in May 2022 aboard a Venezuelan navy ship that was intercepted by the US Coast Guard in the Caribbean Sea.
According to the Justice Department, Morales was part of a crew that was transporting over 1,500 kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to the United States. Morales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in December 2022.
In a statement, US Attorney Damian Williams said, "This sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the use of Venezuela's military to facilitate drug trafficking." He added, "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these criminal networks."
The sentencing of Morales is the latest in a series of actions taken by the United States against Venezuelan officials and military personnel involved in drug trafficking. In February 2023, the US Treasury Department sanctioned two Venezuelan generals for their alleged involvement in the drug trade. The US has also offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been accused of drug trafficking by the US government.
The Venezuelan government has denied the allegations of drug trafficking by its officials and military personnel. Maduro has called the US accusations a "campaign of lies" and an attempt to destabilize his government.
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