For several years, Delcy Rodríguez has been on the radar of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The Associated Press reports that in 2022, Rodríguez, who is currently the acting president of Venezuela, was designated as a "high-priority target." This designation is used by the DEA for individuals who have a "significant impact" on drug trafficking.
The AP report further reveals that the DEA has maintained a comprehensive file on Rodríguez dating back to 2018. This file includes known associates and allegations ranging from drug trafficking to gold smuggling.
In early 2021, a confidential informant provided testimony to the DEA, claiming that Rodríguez used hotels in the Caribbean resort of Isla Margarita as a front for money laundering activities.
Additionally, Rodríguez was linked with Alex Saab, a known associate of Maduro, who was arrested by U.S. authorities in 2020 on money laundering charges. Following Saab's return to Venezuela this past Saturday, Rodríguez has now distanced him from the government.
Despite these allegations, Rodríguez has never been publicly charged by the U.S. government and is not listed among the more than a dozen Venezuelan officials indicted for drug trafficking alongside the ousted president, as noted by the AP.
Nevertheless, her name appears in nearly a dozen DEA investigations, some of which are ongoing, involving agents from regions as varied as Paraguay, Ecuador, Phoenix, and New York.
The specific focus of each investigation remains unclear, though the AP interviewed three current and former DEA agents who confirmed the agency's interest in Rodríguez during her tenure as vice president.
Insights into DEA's Investigations on Delcy Rodríguez
What prompted the DEA to target Delcy Rodríguez?
The DEA targeted Delcy Rodríguez due to allegations of her involvement in drug trafficking and gold smuggling, as well as her associations with known figures involved in money laundering activities.
How is Alex Saab connected to Delcy Rodríguez?
Alex Saab, an associate of Maduro, was connected to Delcy Rodríguez through alleged money laundering operations. Saab was arrested by U.S. authorities in 2020, and upon his return to Venezuela, Rodríguez distanced him from the government.