Venezuela: Collaboration with US Coast Guard led to drug bust in Caribbean Sea

October 8th, 2009 Venezuela and Britain reaffirm anti-drug effortsCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government says it is reaffirming an agreement with Britain to work together to prevent drug trafficking. The state-run Bolivarian News Agency says an official of Britain's Foreign Office signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate with Venezuela on anti-drug operations.

October 1st, 2009 Venezuela turns over drug suspect wanted by USCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's top security official says an American pilot wanted in the United States on cocaine-smuggling charges has been turned over to representatives of the U.S. State Department to be taken home.

September 17th, 2009 Venezuela considers shooting down drug planesCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Thursday he's mulling the possibility of allowing Venezuela's air force to shoot down suspected drug planes, but he is not convinced it's a good idea. "We are studying it.

September 11th, 2009 Mexican ex-officials to be tried for drug tiesMEXICO CITY — A Mexico judge ordered eight former top police and prosecution officials in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo to stand trial on charges of aiding drug cartels, the Attorney General's Office said Friday. The trial orders represent one of the most complete sweeps of top law enforcement officers in a Mexican state in recent memory, including the two highest officials of the federal Attorney General's Office in the state, who were arrested earlier this month.

September 11th, 2009 Intercepted Coast Guard message led to confusionWASHINGTON — The Coast Guard says radio communications for a routine training exercise in Washington were overheard by the public, leading to news reports and confusion amid Friday's commemorations of the Sept. 11 anniversary.

August 24th, 2009 Coast Guard says girl swept to sea by wave diesEDGARTOWN, Mass. — The Coast Guard says three people were rescued at Acadia National Park in Maine and no others are believed to be missing after a large wave washed over a crowd watching the surf.

July 31st, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuela and China signed a $7.5 billion agreement Thursday that includes the construction of a 468-km railway in the country with Chinese support, officials said. Public Works Minister Diosdado Cabello told reporters that the railway - which will run from the town of Tinaco, in the northwestern state of Cojedes, to Anaco, a city in the northeastern state of Anzoategui - is the biggest project Venezuela is undertaking outside of the oil industry.

July 22nd, 2009 Coast Guard: 1,600 pounds of cocaine seizedMIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard says an estimated 1,600 pounds of cocaine were seized from a motorboat off the coast of Venezuela last week.

July 21st, 2009 US report charges drug flow rising in VenezuelaCARACAS, Venezuela — A U.S. congressional report on drug trafficking in Venezuela charges that corruption within the government and military has led to a permissive environment that allows smuggling to flourish.

July 21st, 2009 Venezuela: US drug report threatens relationsCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government criticized a U.S. congressional report on drug trafficking in Venezuela, saying Tuesday that relations cannot be normalized as long as Washington keeps passing judgment on the nation's internal affairs.

July 10th, 2009 Coast Guard cutter makes drug bust off GuatemalaALAMEDA, Calif. — The Coast Guard says a cutter based in Alameda has seized two speedboats, recovered a bale of cocaine and detained four suspected smugglers off the coast of Guatemala.

July 5th, 2009 Drug bust nets heroin stuffed in Build-A-Bear toysNEW YORK — A dozen people have been arrested, and 33 pounds of heroin worth $30 million and stuffed inside Build-A-Bear toys has been seized in a drug bust in the Bronx. The arrests late Friday afternoon were announced Saturday by the New York office of the Drug Enforcement Administration along with city and state police.

June 28th, 2009 Chavez to US general: You're the threat, not usCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says a U.S. general shouldn't be raising concerns that Venezuela is buying arms, and the American commander is wrong to argue there isn't a "conventional military threat in the region." Chavez says the U.S.

May 13th, 2009 Officials: Fla. boat flips, 28 migrants thrownMIAMI — Coast Guard officials in Florida say they are responding to a report that a boat capsized and threw about 28 migrants into the water off the Fort Lauderdale coast.

May 11th, 2009 Venezuela seizes 2 tons of cocaine, arrest 3CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan authorities have seized nearly two tons of cocaine and arrested three suspects in their largest drug bust in months, the country's top counter-drug official said Monday. Police and soldiers discovered 4,370 pounds (1,983 kilograms) of cocaine during a raid on a ranch in central Miranda state on Saturday, said National Anti-Drug Agency director Nestor Reverol.