WASHINGTON — Former US President Donald Trump announced that American forces carried out a military strike against a drug-smuggling vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 individuals he described as “narcoterrorists.”
In a post on social media, Trump stated that the operation targeted members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang accused of involvement in international narcotics trafficking. According to his statement, the vessel was intercepted in international waters while transporting illegal drugs destined for the United States.
The strike marks an escalation in US actions against drug networks linked to Venezuela, coming amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas. Trump’s administration has previously accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and senior officials of enabling large-scale drug trafficking operations. In recent weeks, the US government intensified pressure on Maduro, offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest on narcotics-related charges.
Maduro, however, has dismissed the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and part of Washington’s broader campaign to destabilize his government. He has vowed that Venezuela will resist any attempts at foreign intervention, warning against US military actions in the region.
The operation adds to an already strained relationship between the two nations, with the US increasing sanctions and strengthening its presence in the Caribbean under the banner of counter-narcotics missions. Analysts say the latest strike highlights the dual objectives of disrupting drug trafficking routes while exerting further political and military pressure on Maduro’s government.
