Drug Trafficking Nephews of Venezuelan President Maduro Released During US Prisoner Exchange for Oil Executives

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Venezuela has freed seven jailed Americans in exchange for the release of two relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the two countries have confirmed. Flores de Freitas and Campos Flores were arrested in Haiti in November 2015 by undercover US Drug Enforcement agents.

The swap included five American oil executives, US officials said. The Americans were exchanged for two of Mr. Maduro's wife's nephews, who were serving 18-year sentences in the US on drug charges, the officials said. Venezuela said two men "unjustly" held in the US were freed. It added that a group of US citizens was released for "humanitarian reasons".

The swap included executives of Venezuela's US-based oil company, Citgo, in addition to US Marine veteran Matthew Heath and another American citizen named Osman Khan, US officials said. The oil executives - Tomeu Vadell, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, and Jose Pereira - were jailed five years ago, after being summoned to a meeting in Caracas, where they were charged with terrorism.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that the "wrongfully detained" Americans would soon be reunited with their relatives. "Today, we celebrate that seven families will be whole once more. To all the families who are still suffering and separated from their loved ones who are wrongfully detained - know that we remain dedicated to securing their release," he added.

In exchange for their freedom, President Biden agreed to release two nephews of Venezuela's first lady, Cilia Flores. Franqui Flores and Efrain Antonio Campo Flores were arrested in Haiti in 2015, then taken to New York where they were convicted of drug charges. Ms. Flores is a member of Venezuela's powerful constituent assembly and served as speaker of the National Assembly between 2006 and 2011.

The Venezuelan government said in a statement that the "release of two young Venezuelans unjustly imprisoned in that country has been achieved". A US official said the swap happened at an airport in an unspecified third country. For many years, the US has accused Mr. Maduro of leading a left-wing dictatorship.

The released US prisoners are nephews of Venezuela's First Lady, wife of President Maduro.

The Biden administration has recently sent envoys to reopen dialogue with Venezuela. Critics say the change of policy was triggered by the invasion of Ukraine and the US determination to reduce dependence on Russian oil.

Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, 32, and Efraín Antonio Campo Flores, 31 were accused of conspiring to smuggle 1,700 pounds (800kg) of cocaine into the United States. Venezuela has accused the US of kidnapping the two men and framing them in order to undermine Mr. Maduro's socialist government. 

Prosecutors said the men were in Haiti making arrangements to smuggle cocaine from South America to the US via Honduras. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 30 years, which US District Judge Paul Crotty in New York said "would be excessive" as they had no criminal record.

The two men denied the charges before they were convicted by a jury in November 2016. They said in court that the alleged plot "could never actually have been executed". Before Judge Crotty announced the sentence, Flores de Freitas and Campos Flores asked for a shorter sentence.

"I've always been a good person," said Flores de Freitas. "Even in jail, I tried to help those who were in a worse psychological situation than I find myself in."

The case had caused further damage to already strained relations between the US and Venezuela. US President Donald Trump had imposed sanctions on Mr. Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials for alleged human rights violations. A wave of anti-government protests in Venezuela left more than 120 people dead in just half a year.

Mr. Maduro has accused the US of leading a relentless campaign to destabilize left-wing governments in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. He said the US was effectively imposing an "economic blockade" on Venezuela, which has for years suffered from high inflation, rampant violence, and a shortage of basic goods.

Sources BBC, BBC