TRUMP: U.S. will stop alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers on land "very soon"

Friday, November 28, 2025 -President Donald J. Trump has announced that the United States will shortly begin targeting suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on land, shifting from the predominantly maritime operations that have marked recent efforts. 

He delivered the message during a Thanksgiving‑day video address to U.S. military personnel, saying that traffickers have largely stopped using sea routes and that “the land is easier,” signaling the next phase of what the administration describes as a crackdown on narcotics networks tied to Cartel de los Soles and allegedly connected to the government of Nicolás Maduro.

Trump claimed recent naval operations have already achieved substantial reduction — citing an 85 % drop in smuggling by sea — thanks to more than 20 strikes on suspected drug‑smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since September. But with traffickers shifting tactics, the administration says land‑based actions will begin “very soon.”

The announcement deepens tensions between Washington and Caracas. Venezuela’s government has already condemned the campaign as a pretext for aggression, arguing that the U.S. is using anti‑drug operations to justify military intervention and attempt regime change.