Venezuela’s Socialist Government Now Seizing Cocoa as ‘Outstanding’ Tax Payments

Freddy Padron poses for a photo at his plantation in Barlovento, Venezuela Nov. 21, 2018. Reuters/Marco Bello
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SAN JOSE DE BARLOVENTO, VenezuelaVenezuela cocoa trader Freddy Galindo has battled highway robberies, kidnappings of family members and declining quality in his 19 years exporting the nation’s legendary beans.

This year’s harvest brought a new worry: meddling by the socialist government.