Nephews of Venezuela's First Lady Cilia Flores Arrested for Drug Trafficking

Franqui Francisco Flores-de Freitas and Efrain Antonio Campo-Flores, nephews of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores were arrested and flown to New York. Both are in custody for drug trafficking charges, Reuters reported.

The arrest was made in Haiti on Tuesday through an undercover operation wherein sale and transport of 800 kilos (1,763 lbs.) of cocaine was supposed to be negotiated.

It was reported that Flores-de Freitas and Campo-Flores got in touch with a DEA asset in Honduras and asked for help in moving the merchandise into the United States. Another report stated that the two men also attempted to bring in airport officials into the scheme, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The two men were filmed by U.S. agents as they brought a sample of the shipment to the asset to confirm its quality.

Campo-Flores detailed that he was raised by his aunt, the first lady, and is actually considered a stepson by the presidential couple.

The high-profile scandal came as President Nicolas Maduro draws to a legislative election in December, and at a time when Venezuela is in the midst of an economic crisis.

U.S. prosecutors have insisted that Venezuela has long served as a distribution center of sorts for cocaine that originate in Colombia. About a third of all the cocaine from Colombia goes through Venezuela, which is about 200 tons every year, The Guardian reported. 

Allegations have also been made about top ranking Venezuelan officials involving themselves in the drug trade.   

Caracas has denied these claims even after Venezuelan political and military officials who came to the U.S. to seek sanctuary gave statements supporting the U.S.'s assertions.

The president of the oil-rich country attributed the claims to be a part of a campaign to sully the name of the Socialist Party.

Among those under close watch is former military intelligence head Hugo Carvajal, who was already held on drug-related charges in Aruba. National Assembly president and Mr. Maduro's political rival Diosdado Cabello is also under investigation for trafficking and money laundering.

The U.S. Treasury has locked nine suspected Venezuelan officials out of the States' financial infrastructure. The visas of another 56 Venezuelans connected to the trade have been revoked.

Venezuelan prosecutors, meanwhile, have accused about 100 police and military officers of drug trafficking, Reuters reported.

The Venezuelan first couple has yet to give an official statement regarding the arrest of Ms. Flores' nephews. The Venezuelan government, including the Venezuelan Embassy, has also kept quiet about the issue.