President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the U.S. military struck a facility in Venezuela that was involved in drug trafficking. This action represents an escalation in the pressure the Trump administration is placing on the Caracas regime, which is accused of facilitating the entry of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump addressed reporters alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealing that “there was a massive explosion in the dock area where they loaded drugs onto boats.” He emphasized the success of the operation, stating, “We hit all the boats, and now we’ve hit this area. This operational area no longer exists.”
Trump first disclosed the military action during an interview last Friday with John Catsimatidis on WABC radio. He noted that the operation took place two nights prior and mentioned a significant facility from which drugs were being shipped, although he did not disclose its exact location or the assets used in the operation.
He asserted that the U.S. has delivered a “very heavy blow” to drug trafficking operations, claiming that the amount of drugs entering the U.S. has decreased by more than 97%. Trump accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of deploying gang members to the U.S. to flood the country with dangerous substances.
In his remarks, he explained, “Every time I take down a boat, I save 25,000 American lives. It’s that simple.” This military action marks the first reported strike on a facility within Venezuelan territory by the U.S., and the military has been actively targeting drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, sending naval vessels to increase pressure on Maduro’s regime.
Additionally, Trump’s administration has asserted that Maduro’s days in power are numbered. The president has called for Venezuela to return assets seized from U.S. oil companies over the years, and his government has implemented a comprehensive blockade to prevent all sanctioned tankers from entering Venezuela.
This action comes in response to ongoing concerns about drug trafficking and its impact on U.S. society, demonstrating a significant shift in U.S. military engagement in the region aimed at dismantling drug smuggling networks and protecting American lives.