Trump on Action Against Narco-Terrorism in Venezuela
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the U.S. is planning to escalate its fight against narco-terrorism by potentially taking action “on the ground” in Venezuela. He expressed concerns that the Venezuelan government, led by Nicolas Maduro, is sending criminals, including “murderers” and gang members, into the U.S. amid the recent surge in immigration.
During a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump stated that the military’s operations against trafficking networks—particularly those responsible for synthetic opioids—are increasing. He attributed the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans to these networks.
“Our current efforts against drug smuggling vessels are unprecedented,” Trump remarked, adding, “We’ll begin similar operations on land soon.” He noted that American intelligence has tracked the routes and facilities used by drug manufacturers in Venezuela.
He mentioned, “We understand all the routes. We know where the drugs are made,” emphasizing the toxicity of the substances being trafficked.
Trump reiterated his accusations against Maduro’s regime for allegedly weaponizing immigration, claiming that Venezuela has dispatched criminals to the U.S. He alleged that the country has released dangerous individuals from its prisons, which, in his view, results from the poor management of immigration policies.
Addressing the fentanyl crisis, Trump stated that human traffickers are “killing millions of our people,” and he estimated that around 300,000 Americans succumbed to overdoses last year alone. He noted the frustration of families dealing with the fallout from the opioid epidemic and called for a more vigorous response to curb the flow of drugs.
While he mentioned having a brief conversation with Maduro, Trump made it clear that the U.S. approach involves more than just diplomatic discussions.
He defended ongoing military actions against drug trafficking, stating, “I fully support attacking these boats,” emphasizing that those in charge of these operations pose a real threat to American lives.
The White House has yet to provide any comments regarding these developments.
