in Manhattan federal court,
U.S. Drug Smuggling Trial of Venezuelan Leader Nicolás Maduro’s Nephews Begins. Prosecutors say Efraín Antonio Campo Flores, Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas conspired to smuggle cocaine
U.S. authorities arrested Mr. Campo Flores and Mr. Flores de Freitasin Haiti last November, five days before the alleged first shipment was due to take place. The nephews’ lawyers say they were ensnared by the government in a sting operation, questioning why the arrests were made before any cocaine was transported.
Risky business,
One cooperator, a drug lord confined to a wheelchair in Honduras, was murdered last year. Two other informants, a father-son duo who received more than $1 million from the DEA, are now in jail after admitting they dealt drugs on the side during their investigation into the nephews.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.