A significant military operation by the U.S. targeting a suspected drug smuggling vessel near Venezuela’s coast marked the start of a broader campaign, officials revealed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that military activities would persist, indicating a sustained military effort in Latin America.
Late on Tuesday, President Donald Trump shared a video showcasing an aerial strike on the vessel, which was reportedly laden with a substantial amount of drugs and carried 11 alleged terrorists, all of whom were eliminated. This action follows a recent military buildup, involving the relocation of warships closer to Venezuela and the deployment of several thousand troops, with the aim of intercepting cartel drug shipments bound for the U.S.
Trump suggested that the video was a deterrent for others, stating, “Obviously they won’t be doing it again and I think a lot of other people won’t be doing it again when they watch that tape.” Although without concrete proof, Trump asserted that the 11 individuals killed belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang.
Tren de Aragua, initially a prison gang formed by inmates in Venezuela’s Aragua state over a decade ago, has a notorious reputation for extreme violence, such as beheadings and live burials. The group expanded its operations to Chile, Colombia, and neighboring countries before venturing into U.S. territories like New York, Chicago, and Denver suburbs, engaging in criminal activities like kidnapping, extortion, sex trafficking, and drug smuggling. The Biden administration classified Tren de Aragua as a transnational crime organization last year.
During his tenure, Trump escalated the situation by designating Tren de Aragua as a “foreign terrorist organization” in February, a label typically reserved for political entities like al-Qaeda rather than criminal factions. Trump blamed the gang for facilitating violent migrant inflows into the U.S. and creating havoc in cities.
Despite Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s denial of any association with Tren de Aragua, the U.S. administration accuses him of being a major narco-trafficker collaborating with cartels to flood the U.S. with cocaine laced with fentanyl. Pre-existing allegations against Maduro include being indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism charges, leading to a substantial reward for his arrest. The U.S. Attorney General disclosed the seizure of $700 million in Maduro-linked assets, including private jets and tons of cocaine.
While there are no immediate signs of a U.S. invasion of Venezuela, recent military movements, including naval deployments and troop mobilizations, suggest a heightened military presence near the Venezuelan coast. The Trump administration remains tight-lipped about the operation’s full scope, with White House officials emphasizing the resolve to combat drug trafficking from Venezuela and other sources.
Maduro addressed the Venezuelan populace, urging preparedness for a potential invasion amidst escalating tensions. He condemned the military build-up as a “criminal and bloody threat” and bolstered defense measures along the coast and Colombian border, encouraging civilian militia enlistment. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called for an end to the deployment, denouncing it as an unjustified threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Maduro’s contested claim of victory in the previous presidential election continues to spark international disputes, with Canada and the U.S. refusing to acknowledge his leadership. The Venezuelan opposition seeks international support to oust Maduro, advocating for the military intervention as a necessary step to dismantle what they perceive as a criminal regime.