President Donald Trump has revealed that the U.S. has targeted a dock facility in Venezuela as part of his administration’s intensified campaign against drug smuggling. During an impromptu radio interview on Friday, Trump indicated that the strike specifically aimed at a location where boats supposedly carrying narcotics were loaded.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump stated during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. He emphasized that the U.S. operations have expanded beyond merely targeting boats in international waters, reaching facilities on land. “We hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. There’s where they implement. And that is no longer around,” he added, suggesting significant damage to drug trafficking operations.
This development is a key point in Trump’s broader strategy to combat the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Since early September, U.S. strikes have reportedly killed at least 105 people across 29 documented attacks against drug-laden vessels.
While Trump did not disclose details about the military or intelligence agency involvement in the operation, he affirmed that the strike occurred along the shore, reiterating, “I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was.”
The Pentagon has been noted for announcing strike updates, yet there has been no official communication regarding this latest facility attack. Meanwhile, the White House did not offer any immediate clarification on the incident.
The Trump administration has been vocal about treating the situation as an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has alleged that the real aim of U.S. military maneuvers is to destabilize his government.
Moreover, Trump has signaled a willingness to escalate U.S. military action further. He recently noted the authorization of covert CIA operations in Venezuela, hinting that land strikes might be forthcoming. U.S. military presence in the region has been bolstered, alongside the seizure of oil tankers intended for drug trafficking operations.
As tensions grow, the Trump administration continues to press its agenda against narcotics smuggling, which it views as a national security threat. This proactive stance, while controversial, underscores a commitment to combating the drug crisis that has plagued the U.S. and affected countless lives.