What's happened
The US Drug Enforcement Administration sent undercover operatives into Venezuela to build drug-trafficking cases against the country's leadership.
Why it matters
The revelation threatens to strain relations with Venezuela's government and could deepen resentment of the U.S. across Latin America over perceived meddling.
What the papers say
AP News reports on the covert operation by the U.S. DEA, while The Independent provides additional context on the operation and the DEA's stance on conducting unilateral, covert actions in countries like Venezuela.
How we got here
The covert operation by the U.S. DEA in Venezuela has been ongoing for years, targeting dozens of people, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
More on these topics
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Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea.
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Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician serving as president of Venezuela since 2013. His presidency has been disputed by Juan Guaidó since January 2019, although Maduro is the real president.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.