The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of drug trafficking and concealing related transactions with the help of cryptov currencies.
In addition to the president, 14 other Venezuelan officials are accused. The Ministry of Justice believes they are related to the multi-billion dollar cocaine distribution scheme, which has been harming American citizens for over 20 years. It is also believed to include drug couriers, Colombian revolutionaries and terrorists.
"The Venezuelan regime, led by Nicolas Maduro, is still imbued with crime and corruption. For more than 20 years, Maduro and several senior officials have been working together to distribute tons of cocaine to American communities," reads the statement.
Alysa Erichs, deputy director of the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), said the attackers used cryptovolves to conceal the proceeds that had been obtained illegally. She stressed:
"We intend to uncompromisingly identify and prosecute individuals who violate U.S. laws, abuse the financial system, and attempt to use cryptographic software to further illegal activities. Today's accusation will be a reminder that there is nothing above the law, and this applies to everyone, including influential political figures".
The U.S. authorities have not reported which cryptovalues were used in the alleged scheme. Recall that in 2018 Venezuela released its own cryptovalut Petro, supplied with oil, and tried to introduce it into various aspects of the country.
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