Venezuela Appoints Alleged Drug Trafficker as Oil Minister

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday appointed a close ally who is accused by the U.S. of drug trafficking to lead the nation’s decaying oil industry amid tightening international sanctions, nationwide fuel shortages and plunging crude production.

As oil minister, Tareck El Aissami will be in charge of reorganizing Venezuela’s energy sector, according to the government’s Official Gazette. A longtime Socialist Party loyalist and a top economic adviser to Mr. Maduro, Mr. El Aissami, 45 years old, takes over as Venezuela…