US Designates 'Cartel de los Soles' a Terrorist Organization to Pressure Maduro

Designation of 'Cartel de los Soles'

• 🎯 The US administration is set to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.
• ⚡ This move aims to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
• 📈 It is part of an escalating campaign by the Trump administration to combat drug trafficking into the United States.

Origins and Evolution of the Term

• 💡 The term 'Cartel de los Soles' originated in the 1990s, referring to high-ranking military officers in Venezuela who profited from drug running.
• 📈 As corruption grew under Presidents Hugo Chávez and later Maduro, the term's usage expanded to include police and government officials involved in activities like illegal mining and fuel trafficking.
• ⚖️ In 2020, the Trump administration's Justice Department formally indicted Maduro and his inner circle on narco-terrorism charges, elevating the term to describe a Maduro-led drug trafficking organization.

Broader US Actions Against Venezuela

• ⚠️ The planned designation comes as President Trump considers military action against Venezuela, a possibility he has not ruled out.
• 🚢 The US has already conducted a months-long operation including a significant military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and actions against suspected drug trafficking boats, resulting in over 80 deaths.