We can back with a striking revelation from confidential U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration files that point to Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, being deeply implicated in drug trafficking and money laundering activities. These disclosures come amid heightened U.S. scrutiny following recent moves to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on drug charges.
Rodríguez, long seen as Maduro’s closest aide and now acting president, has been under DEA surveillance for years. According to records obtained by the Associated Press and confirmed by multiple current and former U.S. law enforcement officials, she was designated a “priority target” in 2022—a label reserved for individuals believed to significantly impact the international drug trade.
The DEA’s extensive intelligence files, dating back at least to 2018, detail Rodríguez’s alleged involvement with narcotics trafficking, gold smuggling, and money laundering operations. One informant told investigators she used hotels in Venezuela’s Isla Margarita resort as fronts for laundering illicit funds. Her name also appears linked to Maduro’s alleged financial operator, Alex Saab, arrested by U.S. authorities in 2020 on money laundering charges.
While the U.S. government has never publicly charged Rodríguez with a crime, her repeated mention across numerous DEA investigations—spanning regions from Paraguay to New York—reflects serious ongoing concerns about her role in Venezuela’s corrupt power structure. Experts describe Venezuela as a “criminal hybrid regime,” where high-ranking officials often participate in illicit enterprises to maintain control.
Despite these allegations, President Trump had publicly praised Rodríguez as a key figure for stabilizing Venezuela after Maduro’s ouster, even calling her a “terrific person” engaged closely with U.S. officials. Yet, Trump also warned she could face severe consequences if she does not cooperate with American demands, including providing access to Venezuela’s vast natural resources.
Rodríguez’s rise to power stems from a lifetime within Venezuela’s socialist elite, with personal history marked by tragedy and deep political commitment. Though sanctioned by the U.S. and European Union for undermining democracy, prior allegations have focused primarily on political repression rather than corruption or drug trafficking.
The DEA files reveal detailed interest in Rodríguez’s business dealings, including government contracts awarded to associates and family-linked companies, some involving sums exceeding $650 million. The agency’s Special Operations Division, which played a central role in indicting Maduro, has taken particular interest in these complex networks.
As the U.S. government continues to push for regime change and increased oversight of Venezuela’s illicit activities, Delcy Rodríguez remains a pivotal and controversial figure—her fate intertwined with both Venezuelan politics and American law enforcement’s ongoing investigations.
We will keep you updated as this story develops.
Reporting by Kathy Moore.
