WASHINGTON, July 18: The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced on Wednesday the arrest of a Saudi Arabian prince for his role in smuggling cocaine from Venezuela to France.

The indictments unsealed in a Miami court, charged Nayef Bin Sultan Bin Fawwaz Al-Shaalan, who is not in direct line to the throne, with “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.”

Also indicted were Colombians Ivan Lopez Vanegas and Doris Mangeri Salazar, and Spaniard Jose Maria Clemente.

DEA officials began the investigation in Spring of 2000. They discovered that Al-Shaalan had smuggled 2,000 kilograms of cocaine on his private jet from Venezuela to France.

After the drugs arrived in Europe in May 1999 the police back tracked cocaine from two separate busts to the Al-Shaalan shipment.

“This case is important for the DEA because it sends the message that corruption and abuse of power will not be tolerated,” said DEA Director Asa Hutchinson.—AFP