Coastal operation results in vessel connected to Venezuelan narcotics syndicate being annihilated, resulting in the death of 11 individuals
In a bold move, US President Donald Trump announced a military strike against a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean. The vessel, operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, was reportedly transporting illegal narcotics at sea in international waters.
The strike, aimed at serving as a warning to those bringing drugs into the United States, comes as the US is boosting its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. This decision follows Maduro's government's call for Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.
The Tren de Aragua gang, originating more than a decade ago in Venezuela's central state of Aragua, has been repeatedly blamed by Trump and administration officials for its operations. However, the size and extent of coordination of the gang across state lines and national borders remain unclear.
The latest UN World Drug Report showed various countries in South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, reported larger cocaine seizures in 2022 than in 2021. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and Caribbean, were the world's top cocaine producers.
Maduro's government has responded to the US deployment by deploying troops along Venezuela's coast and border with neighbouring Colombia. The government cites a United Nations report, claiming that traffickers attempt to move only 5% of the cocaine produced in Colombia through Venezuela.
The video of the strike shows a small vessel appearing to explode in flames. According to reports, 11 people were killed in the strike. However, there is no specific information about who was responsible for the affiliation of the people on the affected ship to the Tren de Aragua gang.
It's worth noting that the report does not assign Venezuela the outsize role that the White House had in recent months. Ecuador, for instance, has seen a wave of lethal violence in recent years linked to both local and transnational crime groups, most notably from Mexico and the Balkan countries.
Despite the deployment of thousands of personnel, the US has not signalled any planned land incursion. The focus seems to be on strengthening the US's maritime presence to combat drug trafficking in the region.
In response to the accusations, Maduro has insisted that the US is building a false drug-trafficking narrative to try to force him out of office. He maintains that his government is committed to fighting drug trafficking and has taken steps to combat the issue within Venezuela's borders.
As the situation continues to unfold, it's clear that the fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and South America remains a significant challenge for all involved.
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