Venezuelan Fishermen Fear Government Persecution More Than U.S. Military Presence

Fishermen in the northwestern state of Falcón, Venezuela, have indicated a greater fear of persecution from their government than the presence of U.S. troops in the region. Reports have surfaced regarding actions taken by members of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), who are suspected of stealing fishing equipment. Some fishermen have even been detained and labeled as drug traffickers amid a government crackdown on trafficking in the area.

The Paraguana Peninsula, part of Falcón, has been significantly impacted by the failures of socialism in Venezuela. This region is known for housing one of the world’s largest oil refining centers, which has now almost ceased operations due to decades of mismanagement and ongoing oil spills.

Due to its strategic location in the Caribbean, Falcón serves as a hub for various illicit activities, including drug trafficking. A 2020 report from Transparencia Venezuela detailed that the area is associated with the Paraguana Cartel, a long-established drug trafficking organization comprised of several families. There are claims that local criminal operations utilize Falcón to transport drugs to nearby islands.

Local fishermen have reported being targeted by regressive measures this past September, experiencing theft of their gear and facing arbitrary arrests from security forces. Some accuse these forces of trying to frame them as drug traffickers. This surge in persecution coincides with intensified military operations by the U.S. against drug traffickers in the Caribbean, leading to several strikes against vessels involved in trafficking.

As of recent accounts, military actions have reportedly resulted in attacks on multiple trafficking ships. One official noted that these operations had led to significant losses among traffickers, although fishermen caught in the crossfire feel unjustly targeted.

In interviews, residents of fishing communities on the Paraguana Peninsula voiced their discontent, alleging that regime security officials have been conducting raids to fabricate evidence against local fishermen. Recently, several fishermen were taken from their homes late at night and accused of drug-related crimes, despite their families asserting these claims are unfounded.

A fisherman, identified only as “Francisco” for safety reasons, expressed concern. He mentioned how the environment has shifted, with military forces ostensibly targeting the fishing community while ignoring the actual threats from drug traffickers. He recounted an incident where local officials seized outboard motors that fishermen rely on for their work.

As further operations unfold, local media report a pattern of militarization along the Falconian coast, which is not something directly instigated by the U.S. government. The presence of U.S. naval forces near Venezuela’s coast, while aimed at drug control, has created a tense situation, leading to illegal searches and the loss of fishing equipment.

In the midst of these developments, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has claimed that U.S. interventions are merely pretexts for a broader invasion, alleging that the focus on drug trafficking serves to distract from his administration’s legitimacy. Despite facing serious allegations from U.S. authorities, Maduro has refused to substantiate his claims of “CIA operations” within Venezuela.