US Removes Venezuela From Drug Control Blacklist

The United States has removed Venezuela from its list of countries deemed to have failed to meet their drug control commitments, the first time in more than 20 years that the country has escaped the designation. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he could consider a similar move for Colombia.

Venezuela had been on the list since 2005. Trump attributed its removal to cooperation with the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez, following the US operation that ousted and arrested President Nicolás Maduro in January. He cited the killing of Niño Guerrero, leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal group, as one result of that cooperation.

Trump said he expects further measurable progress from the interim government in dismantling narco-terrorist groups and stopping drug trafficking through Venezuela.

Colombia was designated last year for failing to combat cocaine production. Trump said that after the election of President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office in August, Colombia was poised to resume its place as the US’s leading security partner in the hemisphere. Washington will consider lifting the designation if the country makes progress over the next year in eradicating coca crops and dismantling narco-terrorist networks.

The US continues to regard both Venezuela and Colombia as major drug-producing or transit countries.

(Reuters, Lud)