- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
(CNN Spanish) - The government of Donald Trump announced this Wednesday that the United States has begun anti-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean "in a global approach to prevent the introduction of illegal drugs into American territory and protect Americans," according to Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at a press conference with Trump.
After speaking about the transnational criminal organizations that are dedicated to drug trafficking, Esper added that: “The Maduro regime, as well as other countries, rely on drug profits to earn income. The Venezuelan people are suffering greatly, drug traffickers are increasing their activities ... "
Trump added after Esper that "counter-narcotics operations from the northern hemisphere were increased to protect the people of the United States from drug cartels. We must not allow them to take advantage of this pandemic. "
A U.S. official previously told CNN that President Trump had instructed the deployment of additional military assets to include Navy destroyers, a shore combat ship, Coast Guard vessels, P-8 surveillance aircraft, and elements of a unit. Army known as the Security Force Assistance Brigade, to strengthen anti-drug operations.
According to the official, the deployment seeks to combat drug trafficking in general, although he also stressed that the Maduro regime in Venezuela depends on profits from drug trafficking to boost its operations.
On March 26, the United States accused the questioned President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and several of his key officials of narcoterrorism and corruption, and offered millions in rewards for information leading to his capture.
According to the statement issued at the time, “the State Department offers a reward of up to US $ 15 million for information related to Nicolás Maduro Moros. The Department also offers rewards of up to US $ 10 million in each case for information related to: Diosdado Cabello Rondón, president of the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly; General (retired) Hugo Carvajal Barrios, former director of military intelligence of Venezuela (DGCOM); Clíver Alcalá Cordones, major general (retired) of the Venezuelan Army; and Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah, Minister of Industry and National Production ”.
Drug trafficking