New evidence of criminality in Venezuela’s military emerges

Venezuela’s heavily politicized security forces also have a long history of criminality that goes even beyond the violent repression of protesters. As AEI chronicled earlier this year, the military has actively engaged in narcotrafficking for years, turning Venezuela into a major transit hub for cocaine and other illicit products. Numerous current and former Venezuelan military officials are under indictment by the United States for their role in drug trafficking. As the AEI report stated, “The spread of corruption and criminality throughout the government has been facilitated by the centralization of power under the presidency; the politicization of the military and the judiciary; and the breakdown of transparency, accountability, and the separation of powers.” More…