It was a plan the United States knew from the start would arguably violate international law.The Associated Press obtained a secret 2018 memo detailing a covert operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that sent undercover operatives into Venezuela to surreptitiously record and build drug-trafficking cases against the country’s leadership. The sting was part of a yearslong investigation that targeted dozens of people, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. By joshua Goodman and Jim Mustian. Full Text -> APNews

On February 25, a combined operation between the Colombian Navy and the Aruban security forces allowed the seizure of more than 5 tons of cocaine, hidden in an internal compartment of the Aressa freighter. The Cameroonian-flagged vessel had sailed from the port of Guaranao, in the Venezuelan state of Falcón, and was destined for Greece. Full Text-> Maritime Herald

 A retired Venezuelan army general indicted alongside Nicolas Maduro has surrendered in Colombia and is being taken by Drug Enforcement Administration agents to New York for arraignment, four people familiar with the situation said Friday. By Joshua Goodman. Full text -> Democrat-Gazette

Retired Venezuelan Gen. Cliver Alcalá turned himself in to the U.S. counternarcotics authorities Friday, a day after U.S. prosecutors indicted him and other Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolás Maduro, on drug-trafficking charges, according to four people familiar with the matter. Mr. Alcalá, 58, waived extradition and surrendered to Colombian authorities. Agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration accompanied him on a flight from Colombia to New York. By Kejal Vyas and Juan Forero. Full text -> WSJ