Washington, DC [US], November 17 (ANI): The United States Department of State has announced its intention to designate the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), with the designation set to take effect on November 24. The move marks a significant escalation by Washington against what it describes as a narco-terrorist network controlled by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and senior members of his regime.
According to the State Department, the cartel is led by Maduro and other high-ranking officials of what Washington refers to as the “illegitimate Maduro regime.” US officials say the group has deeply infiltrated and corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislative and judicial systems, while supporting violent criminal organisations across the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the decision, noting in a statement that the designation targets a group “headed by the illegitimate Nicolas Maduro” and responsible for terrorist activity in coordination with other US-designated groups. The State Department said Cartel de los Soles works “by and with” networks such as Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, contributing to drug trafficking into the United States and Europe.
“The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our national security interests and deny funding and resources to narco-terrorists,” the State Department added. The US Treasury Department describes Cartel de los Soles as a criminal organisation that provides material support to foreign terrorist groups threatening US peace and security, particularly Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel.
The move is part of Washington’s broader strategy to expand terrorism-related listings across major organised crime groups in Latin America. Eight organisations — Tren de Aragua, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Cartel del Noreste, La Nueva Familia Michoacan, Gulf Cartel and Carteles Unidos — are now listed alongside some of the world’s most dangerous FTOs, including al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS and Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansarallah).
US officials say the designation of Cartel de los Soles is intended to cut off its international financing channels, restrict its operations and enhance cooperation with regional partners to counter narcotrafficking and terrorist-linked groups across the Western Hemisphere.
The development comes amid a widening US crackdown on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean Sea, following President Donald Trump’s allegations that Venezuela is trafficking illegal drugs into the United States. According to CNN, the US has carried out more than 20 strikes on what it says are drug-trafficking boats linked to Venezuela.
On Sunday, the Pentagon conducted its 21st strike on Venezuelan vessels operating in the Caribbean. “Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” the US Southern Command said in a post on social media. “Three male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed.”
With the latest operation, the total number of people killed in US strikes on suspected drug boats has risen to 83. CNN reported that Washington has recently increased its naval presence in the region, including deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States’ largest aircraft carrier.
In response, Venezuela has announced a “massive mobilization” of troops, weapons and equipment in the Caribbean, raising concerns over potential military escalation. President Donald Trump has said he believes Maduro’s “days are numbered” and that US land strikes on Venezuela are possible.
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