Democrats are pushing back against claims that there’s significant proof linking terrorist organizations with illegal drug trafficking.
Recently, Congressman Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) stated, “There is no such thing as a narco-terrorist,” while discussing the Trump administration’s stance against narco-terrorism in the Caribbean. He criticized the administration for drawing parallels with groups like ISIS or al-Qaeda, suggesting they overlook long-standing ties between such organizations and various local and international drug cartels. These connections have, in fact, led to increased funding for attacks, heightened violence, and exacerbated existing conflicts.
There is no doubt that President Maduro’s regime is a significant threat to both regional stability and U.S. national security. Trump’s initiative against narco-terrorism is a direct response to that threat.
Narcoterrorism isn’t a recent phenomenon linked to the Trump era; my book from 1990 explores how governments worldwide have historically exploited the drug trade to fund terrorism. For over three decades, the U.S. largely ignored this issue, but those days are behind us.
On November 16, the U.S. Treasury Department labeled the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles, under President Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. Other groups, including the Torren de Aragua and Sinaloa Cartels, were also named. It’s arguable that the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), a Marxist group heavily involved in drug trafficking and closely allied with Maduro, should have been added to this list.
When I researched narcoterrorism beginning in 1986, I was initially inclined to see political groups using drugs for their gain. But the evidence revealed a different reality: Marxist-Leninist and Islamist governments and militias actively control this trade.
The roots of Venezuela’s narco-terrorism can be traced back to 2005, when Hugo Chávez expelled the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. After Chávez passed away in 2013, Maduro took control and formed closer ties with Iran and Hezbollah, labeled “Axis of Resistance,” aiming to counter U.S. influence in Latin America and the Middle East while enriching his regime.
Maduro’s relationships with Iran and Hezbollah are strong. He provides support for drug trafficking, money laundering, arms smuggling, and other terrorist activities across the region.
Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal, a former general and member of the Cartel de los Soles, wrote to President Trump, stating, “The purpose of this organization is to weaponize drugs against the United States.” He claimed that the flow of drugs into American cities wasn’t due to corruption or independent traffickers—it was a calculated move by the Venezuelan regime.
This long-standing collaboration has contributed to the addiction epidemic in the U.S., leading to countless deaths.
In summary, Maduro’s narco-terrorism poses a serious threat to both regional and U.S. security, and Trump’s stance against this issue is justified.
