Caracas, Venezuela. The Trump administration is preparing to intensify pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, a move U.S. officials say is part of a broader effort to curb narcotics trafficking. The designation, expected Monday, follows months of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific targeting boats accused of drug smuggling.
While U.S. officials allege the network is led by Maduro, experts note that the Cartel de los Soles is not a traditional cartel but a loose term that has long referred to corruption among Venezuelan military and government elites. The Justice Department elevated the label in 2020 when it indicted Maduro and top officials for narcoterrorism, accusing them of conspiring with Colombian rebels to send cocaine into the United States.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new designation will give the United States “a whole bunch of new options,” though he did not detail whether land strikes in Venezuela are being considered. Administration officials say internal intelligence signals growing nervousness within Maduro’s circle as maritime strikes continue.
Maduro, who the U.S. does not recognize as president, has denied the allegations and accused Washington of manufacturing a narrative to justify removing him from office. His government has repeatedly cited United Nations findings suggesting only a small percentage of Colombia’s cocaine flows through Venezuela.
The Treasury Department recently sanctioned the network, accusing Maduro and his allies of using state power to support trafficking and assist groups such as Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
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