A last week’s drone strike by the CIA targeted a remote pier in Venezuela, shortly after President Trump hinted at such a possibility. This marks the first known attack of its kind in Latin America.
The CIA believed the pier was being utilized by the violent Venezuelan gang, Torren de Aragua, for drug smuggling, as reported by several sources.
Fortunately, it seems no casualties were reported from the attack.
President Trump publicly referenced the attack last Friday, affirming it during a Monday discussion. He remarked, “We just knocked out — I don’t know if you read or saw — they have big factories, big facilities, and that’s where the ships come from,” during a conversation with radio host John Catsimatidis.
“We beat it two nights ago. So we hit them really hard,” he added.
The timing of the strike had not been disclosed when the President made his statements. Reports indicate that while the facility and the vessel were likely neutralized, authorities are concerned that drug traffickers are operating numerous other locations.
Recalling the event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump noted, “There was a huge explosion in the area of the pier where they load drugs onto boats.” He elaborated, saying, “They’re loading drugs onto boats. So we attack all the boats and now we attack that area. That’s the enforcement area, that’s where they enforce the drugs, and that doesn’t exist anymore.”
This strike represents a significant escalation, being the first direct action by the Trump administration on Venezuelan territory.
Interestingly, it seems that Venezuela did not seem to react strongly to the strike as it unfolded.
Since September, the Trump administration has taken down over 30 suspected drug-smuggling vessels and claims to have killed more than 107 individuals, primarily Venezuelans, in what are believed to have been international waters. The President had previously instituted a blockade on oil tankers linked to Venezuela, which holds the largest known oil reserves globally.
Trump has expressed frustration with the situation, citing issues arising from Venezuelan migrants and ongoing drug trafficking as reasons to ramp up pressure on Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader.
Earlier this month, Trump hinted at potential ground actions, although it was unclear whether such military moves had occurred previously. “We’re going to launch attacks on the ground,” he said, adding, “Land is much easier…We know the routes they take. We know where the bad guys live.”
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles indicated that part of Trump’s ambition is to force Maduro into submission.
However, Maduro, whose recent election was marked by controversy, appears resolute in maintaining his position.
Officials from the Trump administration have drawn parallels between this operation against Venezuelan drug traffickers and historical U.S. strikes against groups like al-Qaeda. The Post has reached out to the CIA and the White House for further comments.
