Maduro Offers U.S. Talks on Counter-Narcotics, Rejects Drug-Trafficking Allegations

He used a filmed interview to cast Venezuela as a victim of Colombian cocaine flows, underscoring his claim of an effective domestic crackdown.

Overview

President Nicolás Maduro said Venezuela is ready for a “serious” agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking.
He labeled U.S. accusations against his government as lies and denied Venezuelan involvement in narcotics trafficking.
He asserted that all cocaine moving through the region is produced in Colombia and that Venezuela bears the impact.
He pointed to results since expelling the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2005 as evidence of stronger policing and border control.
His comments were made to journalist Ignacio Ramonet and streamed on his Telegram channel, and no formal negotiations with the United States were announced.