Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently discussed a U.S. drone strike in Venezuela that hit a site allegedly used for cocaine production. Petro claimed the facility in Maracaibo was linked to the ELN, a guerrilla group that plays a significant role in drug trafficking in the region.
In a post on X, he stated, “We know Trump bombed a factory in Maracaibo. It’s used for mixing coca paste into cocaine, benefiting from its location near Lake Maracaibo. This is simply the ELN at work.” This strike happened soon after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that U.S. forces targeted a large drug trafficking facility in Venezuela.
Media reports suggest the CIA was involved in the drone strike, which targeted a port facility. Petro highlighted that many boats reportedly attacked during military actions were transporting cannabis, not cocaine, which poses a contradiction given that cannabis is legal in some areas of the U.S. but illegal in Colombia. “This situation has cost many lives,” Petro noted, advocating for a crop substitution to cannabis, which he believes could be more beneficial financially for Colombian farmers.
Petro also mentioned that only about 5% of Colombia’s cocaine production makes its way through Venezuela. He emphasized that claims linking Venezuela to drug trafficking lack solid evidence and criticized misinformation being circulated about his government’s relationship with Venezuela. In recent talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, they discussed strategies to combat the influence of the ELN along their shared border.
The Venezuelan government has yet to respond officially to the attack or to Petro’s remarks. Meanwhile, Maduro suggested that U.S. media is spreading “false news” and called for efforts to counter disinformation about Venezuela.
This incident highlights the complex interplay of drug trafficking, international relations, and misinformation in the region. As Colombia confronts drug-related challenges, discussions around crop substitution and legal frameworks continue to gain traction among experts.
For more insights, you can read about how the dynamics of drug trafficking have evolved over the decades. Historical trends have shown that shifts in policies can lead to changes in production and trafficking routes.
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