The ‘drug threat’ that justified the US ouster of Maduro won’t be fixed by his arrest

There is no evidence that US intervention in Venezuela will lead to a meaningful reduction in drugs flowing into the United States.

By: Eduardo Gamarra, Florida International University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 14, 2026

Words: 1,029

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Eduardo Gamarra, Florida International University

Donald Trump has flagged Venezuelan drug trafficking as a key reason for the U.S. military operation on Jan. 3, 2026, that captured President Nicolás Maduro and whisked him to New York to face federal drug charges.

Trump has described Maduro as “the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.”

In 2025, the administration …

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