WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly rejected the latest United Nations drug report, calling it “detached from reality” and criticizing it for downplaying Venezuela’s role in global drug trafficking.
Speaking at a press conference, Rubio said, “I don’t care what the United Nations says — we know that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is directly involved in drug trafficking. He is facing charges in U.S. courts for narcotics and terrorism and is a wanted criminal in the United States.”
Rubio expressed outrage over the report’s failure to adequately highlight Venezuela’s involvement in drug smuggling. He accused the UN of ignoring ground realities and turning a blind eye to a major player in the international narcotics trade.
According to the UN report, drug production and trafficking have significantly increased in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, while Venezuela’s role was described as minor — a characterization the U.S. strongly disputes.
“The United States considers the Venezuelan regime a central component of global narcotics networks,” Rubio asserted. “The international community cannot afford to stay silent on this issue.”
The controversy adds to growing tensions between the U.S. and multilateral institutions over how transnational crime is assessed and addressed.
