Venezuela has been in Washington's crosshairs for months, with the Trump administration accusing its leader, Nicolas Maduro, of flooding the United States with drugs. So, is the South American country really a primary drug trafficker to the U.S.?

Caracas

The Trump administration cited drug trafficking as the main reason for its actions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, claiming he led a major criminal network supplying illicit drugs to the United States. However, United Nations data indicates that Venezuela is not a primary maritime drug route to the US, with Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama identified as the main suppliers by sea.

The UN World Drug Report further shows that Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia are the leading producers and processors of coca leaf, while Venezuela is primarily a transit country and ranks sixth in drug seizures in the region. Additionally, the majority of fentanyl entering the US originates from Mexico and China, not South America. Statements from the US administration also suggest a significant interest in Venezuela's oil reserves.

Is Venezuela really a primary drug trafficker to the U.S.?

It's the reason given by the Trump administration for deploying to Venezuela and capturing its president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores. Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States. We are a war against drug trafficking organizations, not a war against Venezuela. Prior to extracting Maduro, Washington had for months been carrying out strikes on boats supposedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. But while the South American country is involved in cocaine trafficking, UN data shows that that's not among the main routes within the Americas by sea. Rather Colombia, Ecuador and Panama are the biggest suppliers to the US by boat. Figures from the UN's World Drug Report show that Colombia is responsible for almost two thirds of coca leaf cultivation, followed by Peru and then Bolivia. The three countries also have the most cocaine processing facilities. Venezuela appears as a transit country along with many other American nations, but it ranks sixth among them in terms of drug seizures. Trump has also linked his administration's attacks on drug vessels to the trafficking of fentanyl, responsible for most overdose deaths in the US. But UN data shows no significant level of the illegal drug produced in South America, while Mexico and China are the primary suppliers of fentanyl trafficked into the United States. A lot of money is coming out of the ground. Trump's words after the extraction of Maduro suggest Washington's true interest in Venezuela. We're going to take back the oil that frankly we should have taken back a long time ago. Not drugs, but rather the largest oil reserves in the world.

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