President Trump, addressing U.S. service members on Thanksgiving, announced that the United States will soon begin stopping suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers ‘by land,’ marking a significant shift in strategy. He emphasized that the current focus on maritime interdiction has been highly effective, with approximately 85% of illicit cargo already intercepted by sea. Trump hinted that future operations will target land-based trafficking routes, a move that has drawn considerable scrutiny, particularly given the ongoing tensions and previous military strikes on Venezuelan drug networks.
The president praised the U.S. Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, for its efforts in deterring Venezuelan drug networks. Trump expressed confidence in the military’s capability to combat drug trafficking, stating, ‘We’re going to take care of that situation,’ as he addressed the growing concern over the influx of narcotics into the U.S. He highlighted that the drug traffickers are responsible for ‘hundreds of thousands of people a year’ in deaths, attributing this toll to the ‘poisons’ they bring into the country.
The announcement comes amid mounting pressure to address the crisis of drug trafficking from Venezuela, which has been linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. The administration has carried out several deadly strikes on drug-smuggling boats in Eastern Pacific and Caribbean waters since early September, targeting vessels associated with the Tren de Aragua gang and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional. These operations have resulted in the destruction of dozens of vessels, with at least 21 fatal strikes reported. The White House did not respond immediately to queries about the new land-based strategy, though it did acknowledge the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Trump’s remarks underscore the administration’s determination to address the drug trafficking crisis, which has become a central issue in the ongoing geopolitical tensions with Venezuela. The president also reiterated that the U.S. would continue its aggressive stance against drug networks, warning traffickers that ‘we’re going to stop sending poison to our country.’ This approach reflects a broader strategy of using military and law enforcement resources to combat organized crime and drug trafficking, a policy that has been both praised and criticized by various stakeholders.