U.S. Designates Venezuelan Cartel as Terrorist Organization

On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. government will soon officially classify the Cartel de los Soles, a drug-trafficking operation linked to the Venezuelan military, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

In his statement, Rubio mentioned that this designation will trigger severe sanctions and blacklist members of the cartel within the United States. He explicitly pointed to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as the cartel’s head.

Rubio described the Cartel de los Soles as being led by Maduro and other high-ranking officials from his regime, who have compromised the military, intelligence, judiciary, and legislature in Venezuela. He asserted that neither Maduro nor his associates represent a legitimate government.

The Cartel is accused of facilitating drug trafficking to the U.S. and Europe, as well as engaging in terrorist violence across the region. Alongside this designation, he named other criminal groups, like Torren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, as similarly dangerous.

Torren de Aragua, which was once based in Venezuela’s Aragua state, grew into a significant global threat after Maduro ordered an aggressive takeover of its headquarters, resulting in mass escapes of imprisoned leaders. Currently, the whereabouts of Hector Guerrero, the cartel’s chief, are unknown, though the U.S. government is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.

Interestingly, the Trump administration had previously offered $50 million for details leading to Maduro’s arrest and $25 million for Diosdado Cabello, Maduro’s interior minister, who has long been connected to the Cartel de los Soles. Recent reports, particularly from July 2024, suggest that Maduro has become even more involved in drug trafficking activities.

The State Department confirmed that the Cartel de los Soles would officially be listed as an FTO on November 24th. This designation comes with significant repercussions, including barring individuals affiliated with the cartel from entering the U.S. Furthermore, it allows for the freezing of their assets within the country and the potential for criminal prosecution of those providing support to the organization.

This move poses a risk not just for Maduro’s travel plans but also for other significant figures linked to the cartel, such as Cabello. Although many key leaders in Venezuela avoid U.S. travel, Maduro has appeared at several United Nations meetings, capitalizing on these occasions for propaganda purposes.

An overview by the organized crime analysis group Insight Crime emphasizes that the Cartel de los Soles, which has its roots in drug trafficking within the military dating back to the late Hugo Chávez’s regime, operates as a loose alliance rather than a strict hierarchy. They explain that this cartel comprises various groups spread across military branches.

In 2015, a former Chávez security official claimed that Cabello was the head of the cartel, while other significant figures, like Tarek El Aissami, were also implicated. Back then, Cabello was reported to be heavily involved in managing drug operations, with Maduro merely reaping financial benefits. Attempts by Cabello to dismiss allegations of his involvement were unsuccessful in U.S. courts.

Rubio labeled Cabello as “the Pablo Escobar of Venezuela” in 2017. Following these comments, U.S. intelligence suggested he had even plotted against Rubio. In a recent indictment revealed in 2024, new evidence surfaced indicating that Maduro has actually played a crucial leadership role in the cartel.

The FTO designation follows extensive U.S. military initiatives in the Caribbean aimed at intercepting drug shipments bound for the U.S. On Sunday, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, was confirmed to have entered the Caribbean Sea, operating under orders from President Trump.

The Navy clarified that this carrier group would support joint forces already present in the region to tackle drug trafficking networks. In an earlier interview, Trump commented humorously about the carrier’s efforts, noting the importance of its positioning.

Notably, the Trump administration has consistently questioned the legitimacy of Maduro’s presidency, citing electoral fraud and violent suppression of opponents.

Press Secretary Caroline Levitt reiterated that the U.S. will harness all means available to stop drug flow into the country and to hold those responsible accountable, reiterating the U.S. stance that the Maduro regime is a drug-terrorism cartel.