El Aissami, Wanted by USA for Drug Trafficking, Becomes Venezuela’s Oil Minister

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has appointed former Vice President Tareck El Aissami as Oil Minister. He is charged by the USA with drug trafficking.

According to an official announcement on Monday, Asdrúbal José Chávez, a cousin of Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chávez who died in 2013, will become the new president of the state oil company PDVSA. Asdrúbal and El Aissami replace General Manuel Quevedo, who held both the Ministry and the PDVSA presidency.

El Aissami is on the ICE’s list of most-wanted drug traffickers. The US authorities credit him with “a significant role” in the international drug trade. He is charged with having shipped over 1000 kilograms of narcotics by air or sea, some of them bound for the United States.

Venezuela is in a severe political and economic crisis. Maduro was elected for a second term in controversial elections in 2018. Parliament President Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president in early 2019 and was recognized by many Western countries.

The USA, in particular, is attempting to oust Maduro from power. However, Guaidó failed to force a change of power. Maduro still has the military behind him and is backed by Russia and China, among other countries.