The United States has classified the Cartel de los Soles, which it claims is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and key government officials, as a foreign terrorist organization. This designation provides U.S. authorities greater authority to combat and dismantle the group. The U.S. has intensified pressure on Maduro, asserting his government is unlawful following an election seen as fraudulent.
Venezuelan officials, including the foreign ministry, have denied the existence of the Cartel de los Soles, labeling U.S. claims as a “ridiculous lie.” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello insists the narrative is fabricated, suggesting that U.S. accusations serve as a pretext to target individuals disliked by American authorities. Additionally, Colombia’s president has also voiced skepticism regarding the cartel’s existence.
Despite these denials, the U.S. State Department maintains that the Cartel de los Soles has infiltrated various branches of Venezuela’s government, claiming to have evidence of extensive corruption. Experts on organized crime suggest the truth regarding the group’s existence may be complex.
The term “Cartel de los Soles” originated in the early 1990s in the Venezuelan media and was initially associated with allegations of drug trafficking among military personnel. Some experts trace its activities back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Venezuelan officials reportedly started facilitating cocaine trafficking as Colombian cartels faced pressure from law enforcement.
The U.S. Justice Department has implicated Maduro and other high-ranking officials, alleging involvement in conspiracy with armed Colombian groups for cocaine transport. This includes past assertions from former Venezuelan military officials who allied with U.S. authorities. Maduro and Cabello remain in Venezuela, where U.S. rewards for their information leading to capture have increased significantly. The Venezuelan government continues to reject these allegations, framing them as an unjustifiable attack on its sovereignty.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8j4ye5x0mo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss