Venezuela helps US seize cocaine-laden ship

The Associated Press
6:33 p.m. August 20, 2009

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela says its collaboration with U.S. authorities led to the seizure of about a ton of cocaine aboard a ship in the Caribbean Sea.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami says the U.S. Coast Guard discovered the cocaine on a boat off Venezuela's coast after Venezuelan officials gave them permission to board the vessel on Wednesday.

Two Venezuelans and a Colombian were arrested.

El Aissami said Thursday that the bust "shows the unbreakable will" of President Hugo Chavez's government to fight drug trafficking.
U.S. officials accuse Venezuela of failing to effectively combat drug smuggling through its territory.

El Aissami says American officials should do more to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

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