VENEZUELA:The United States has accused Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez of allowing his country to become a haven for international cocaine trafficking by neglecting to tackle the problem.
Venezuela has long been a transit route for cocaine manufactured in neighbouring Colombia, the world's number one producer of the illegal substance, that ends up in the US and Europe.
US officials say however that Venezuela's role in the cocaine trade has expanded to make it a major drug shipment route.
"At a point where neglect becomes complicity, it is an active policy not to engage and deal with this problem," said John Walters, director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Bogota. "I think it is about time to face up to the fact that President Chávez is becoming a major facilitator of the transit of cocaine to Europe and other parts of this hemisphere."
Mr Walters estimated that annual cocaine shipments through Venezuela were now more than 200 tonnes. Colombia produces at least 600 tonnes a year, most of which goes to the US and European markets.
"He is making Venezuela into a haven, he is making a haven that is being used to victimise not only this hemisphere but Europe and Africa," Mr Walters said.
Mr Chávez, a strident Washington foe, has clashed with the US government over drug co-operation efforts since he expelled US narcotics agents in 2005 after charging them with spying against his government. He says Venezuela is a victim of traffickers working in neighbouring Colombia and rejects Washington's charges of negligence as lies.
Cocaine is transported into Venezuela from Colombia across a 2,200km (1,400- mile) border where guerrillas from the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and other armed groups operate in jungle areas.
While European experts agree smuggling through Venezuela has increased during Mr Chávez's government, some question US estimates as high and say Venezuela is still co-operating with European navy patrols off its Caribbean coast.
Venezuelan officials said last year they planned to purchase Chinese satellite technology and use Russian-made jets to reinforce surveillance of illegal drug shipments.