Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says authorities have confiscated some 2.5 metric tons of cocaine and arrested 11 suspected drug smugglers in a raid on a hidden airstrip in a remote eastern region.
Mr. Chavez said the drugs were found in a private plane that had been registered in the United States.
Venezuela has been criticized recently by Washington for failing to fight drug trafficking effectively.
U.S. and Venezuelan officials had collaborated in the fight against illegal drugs until this year, when Mr. Chavez accused U.S. drug agents of spying on his government and suspended cooperation with them.
Venezuela serves as a corridor for illegal drugs moving from Colombia to the United State or Europe.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
