US President Donald Trump announced that the United States has carried out a strike on a dock facility allegedly linked to Venezuelan drug trafficking operations. The target, described as the area “where they load the boats up with drugs,” was hit in a drone strike reportedly conducted by the CIA, according to CNN and the New York Times citing sources close to the matter. This could mark the first confirmed US operation inside Venezuela.

Details of the Strike

Trump said the strike involved a “major explosion” at the dock area but did not disclose the facility’s exact location. The Venezuelan government has not yet issued a response.

The President indicated that previous strikes had focused on drug-smuggling vessels, targeting over 20 boats in the Pacific and Caribbean since September, resulting in at least 100 fatalities. The most recent maritime strike occurred on Monday, with the US Southern Command confirming that two “narco-terrorists” were killed in a lethal kinetic strike in the eastern Pacific.

When asked about the CIA’s role in the dock strike, Trump stated, “I don’t want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was,” but confirmed that the operation targeted the area where drugs were processed and loaded onto vessels.

US Military Presence in the Caribbean

The United States has deployed 15,000 troops, along with aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships, to the Caribbean region. Among these vessels is the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. US helicopters reportedly launched from the carrier before US forces seized an oil tanker off Venezuela on 10 December.

The Pentagon has not released imagery of the dock strike but has previously confirmed maritime operations via social media. The US administration describes these strikes as efforts to intercept narcotics shipments, particularly fentanyl and cocaine, intended for US markets.

Tensions with Venezuela

President Nicolás Maduro has denied claims that his government is involved in drug trafficking and condemned the US seizures as acts of “piracy.” He argues that Washington is using the war on drugs as a pretext to remove him from power and seize control of Venezuela’s oil resources.

Trump suggested that the US actions could indirectly pressure Maduro to change his policies, stating:

“Well, I think it probably would… That’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it’d be smart for him to do that. But again, we’re gonna find out.”

Context of US Anti-Narcotics Operations

Since September, US operations have intensified against suspected Venezuelan drug shipments, reflecting concerns over the flow of lethal narcotics into the United States. The Trump administration asserts that Venezuela is leveraging oil revenues to fund criminal networks, making the country a central point in regional drug trafficking operations.

The dock strike announcement signals a continued escalation in US efforts to disrupt drug supply chains in the Caribbean and Pacific, combining military presence with targeted drone and naval operations.