Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami called a decision by the U.S. Treasury to impose sanctions on him due to suspected narco trafficking "miserable provocations" and vowed to display "greater strength" in the face of what he defined as imperialist aggressions.
On Monday, El Aissami became one of the most-senior government leaders of any country added by the Treasury Department to a list of foreign nationals subject to economic sanctions under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The Treasury Department alleged that El Aissami -- who was elevated to his post last month -- protected drug lords and oversaw a network of planes and ships exporting thousands of kilograms of cocaine.
