Special Report: U.S. takes aim at the power behind Venezuela's Maduro - his first lady

FILE PHOTO: Cilia Flores , deputy of Venezuela's United Socialist Party and wife of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, and her fellow deputy Diosdado Cabello attend a session of the National Assembly in Caracas January 22, 2016. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

Nicole Navas, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice, declined to comment on any possible charges against Flores. Flores and her office at the National Assembly didn’t respond to questions for this article. In late March, U.S. prosecutors indicted Maduro and over a dozen current and former Venezuelan officials on charges of narco-terrorism and drug smuggling. Maduro, now in his eighth year as Venezuela’s president, for years sought to flood the U.S. with cocaine, prosecutors alleged, seeking to weaken American society and bolster his position and wealth.

Leveraging the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis in Venezuela, the White House now hopes it can topple a leader who has weathered years of tightening economic sanctions, civil unrest and international isolation. Still, the probe against her underscores the vast influence she wields, particularly in helping Maduro outmaneuver rivals inside and outside Venezuela.

According to five people familiar with the discussions, Flores instructed intermediaries to ask U.S. envoys for liberty for her jailed nephews. In exchange, these intermediaries said Venezuela would release six imprisoned executives of Citgo Petroleum Corp [PDVSAC.UL], the U.S. refining unit of Venezuela’s state-run oil company.

Little is known about the first lady outside Venezuela, particularly the extent of her role in Maduro’s government and her dealings that help it survive. The information he is providing investigators, including details on Flores’ alleged role in the drug-trafficking plan by her nephews, is deemed credible by U.S. authorities, according to people familiar with the probes. Mike Vigil, a former DEA chief of international operations, told Reuters the DEA gives “high significance” to Lamas’ testimony.Flores was born October 15, 1956, in Tinaquillo, a small city in northwestern Venezuela.

In 1989, a fuel hike sparked riots that shook Caracas and awakened in Flores what she later described to state television as a “revolutionary calling.” Hundreds of protesters, angry with corruption and widening inequality in the oil-producing country, died in clashes with security forces.

ÉSTA ES LA NOTICIA DEL DÍA.

Enough of the propaganda. We did this dance, before. Meanwhile, Trump is allowing 5 ships travel from Iran to Venezuela without a peep.

Sad, stop this madness of war. Think about the children you are killing.

Which Think Tank wrote this regime change propaganda.

AlexandredeMoraesdefensordoBrasil

She looks just like Karen!!!

VENEZUELA. BEST COUNTRY ON COMBAT COVID19 IN THE HEMISPHERE.

Whoever did these renditions should be take. Out back

Diplomatic relations by indictment. Great idea. Hasn't worked out too well so far.

HANDS OFF VENEZUELA TRUMP.

America should worry about those 100,000 dead. Remember America 1st

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