by Olga Kuznetsova
[REGNUM] Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was dragged out of his bed and brought to the United States in the best traditions of the TV series "Narcos" – in order to, according to the American leadership, carry out "fair justice" on him.
Along the way, without encountering much resistance, they cleared out his entire personal security detail—apparently Cuban—bombed Venezuela's main military installations, and delivered the now former Bolivarian leader to New York.
And even together with his wife, Celia Flores, who doesn’t appear in videos nearly as often as her husband.
The front pages of newspapers immediately picked up the story, discussing the overthrow of yet another "dictatorship" and the hunt for the energy resources of the Bolivarian Republic, but for the general public, from the podium of the White House, they decided to play a completely different card.
WITH DELIVERY FROM DEA
A few hours after the thunderous statements by Donald Trump and Pentagon officials, who spoke in the best traditions of the colonialists of past centuries, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a descendant of Cuban immigrants, took the stage.
Rubio immediately dismissed any talk that Trump had launched a war without the authorization of U.S. lawmakers. According to the Secretary of State, congressional authorization was not required for the operation in Venezuela, as it was not an invasion or occupation, but merely a "law enforcement operation" to detain Maduro.
As if to confirm these words, the first photographs and videos appeared showing the handcuffed president of the Bolivarian Republic.
The photographs featured agents from the American Drug Enforcement Administration, or simply DEA, everywhere.
Even though the capture of Maduro and his wife was carried out by the elite Delta Force special forces unit, the public needed to be shown that the operation was primarily about counter-narcotics.
It is the DEA agents who are at the forefront during the next triumphant delivery of one or another drug lord to the States.
In the case of Nicolás Maduro, a nuance stands out: before New York, he was taken to the US military base in Guantánamo Bay, thereby drawing an important parallel for the American public with Middle Eastern terrorists.
WHAT IS MADURO ACCUSED OF?
The indictment against Maduro, Flores and several others was released in advance by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Naturally, the focus is on the charge of conspiracy to commit "narcoterrorism." However, the ruling couple is also accused of importing cocaine and acquiring and illegally possessing automatic weapons and destructive devices intended to be used against the United States and its people.
The couple is also accused of collaborating with Colombian groups—ELN and FARK. However, no one seems concerned that these groups represent a collection of armed groups that don't always cooperate (and often compete).
According to American law enforcement, Maduro did not limit himself to collaborating with Colombian drug traffickers, but also had dealings with the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, and the organized crime group from which he emerged—the Los Zetas Cartel.
The indictment also included a mention of the Tre de Aragua gang, which has dominated Western news over the past six months.
Interestingly, the president's wife, who was often cited in "independent investigators" as the true leader of the "Cartel of the Suns," is accused more of handing out bribes and participating in corruption, depriving her of any leadership role in the cartel's management.
Of the other Venezuelan officials, only Minister Diosdado Cabello, the son of Nicolás Maduro, and a couple of characters associated with Cilia Flores, but who had not previously appeared much on the agenda, are mentioned.
THE "PRODUCT" WILL BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE
To understand the strained nature of the accusations against Maduro, it's worth recalling the long-standing conclusions of the UN's relevant agency, which stated that Venezuela is not a cocaine-producing country, since all coca plantations are concentrated in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.
A certain amount of drugs is indeed being transported through Venezuela, but the declared amount of cocaine (several hundred tons) is too small to suggest the work of some legendary organized crime group.
At the same time, the Americans claim that the drug is supplied on an almost industrial scale using military and civilian equipment.
However, Colombia, where cocaine production has been growing since 2020, has not yet been touched, although current President Petro has received certain threats from Trump.
The main North American customers are unlikely to experience any shortages, other than a price adjustment due to changes in logistics. As for the traditional decline in cocaine demand in the United States, there's no reason to talk about it.
ROOM FOR MANEUVER
Neither the current Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, nor Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, nor the judges of the Supreme Court of the Bolivarian Republic are mentioned in the American document.
But from the US government's point of view, the entire ruling elite of Venezuela is part of a drug cartel and must be held accountable.
In essence, current officials in Caracas have retained room for maneuver.
Trump also launched into accusations against other neighbors. While answering journalists' questions, he couldn't resist flexing his muscles. Threats weren't limited to regional countries—Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico—but Greenland, part of the Danish kingdom, also came under fire.
In terms of drug trafficking accusations, Mexico deserves special mention. The American leader has repeatedly stated that the Mexican president doesn't govern the country—in his view, it's the cartels, which are "too powerful" and will have to be "dealt with."
Since the fall, Mexican security forces have been vigorously clearing out the state of Sinaloa, the birthplace and sphere of influence of the eponymous organized crime group. Several major drug operators in the region, who facilitated drug trafficking to the United States, have been killed or arrested.
It is doubtful that anything like this could have happened without the cooperation of the CIA and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
What is the point of these threats then?
It's possible this is a kind of "greeting" from Mexico's ruling leftist party, which has traditionally been loyal to the socialist governments of Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The Mexicans even send tankers of fuel to the latter—something they apparently shouldn't do now.
INVINCIBLE DRUG TRAFFICKING
Interestingly, the document makes no mention of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, the rivals of the Sinaloa gangsters who were mentioned.
Mexican law enforcement has taken a break from cracking down on the region's largest cartel, fearing retaliation from drug traffickers.
Local police are concerned about possible kidnappings of tourists during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, among other places.
However, by suspending the fight against the group, Mexican security forces are essentially helping it clear the field of competitors. And at the same time, the Americans are no longer connecting it to this year's top drug lord, even though the Americans weren't known for such reverence for this organized crime group in their investigations five years ago. A stunning coup for the cartel.
Thus, the steady flow of drugs into North America is not only unstoppable, but will be concentrated in the hands of a smaller number of individuals who will be able to make even more money.
Related:
Jalisco New Generation: 2025-12-22 Cartel Jalisco Lieutenant Ran Terrorist Group from House Arrest for Seven Months
Jalisco New Generation: 2025-12-18 'The Largest Armada.' By blockading Venezuela, Trump is sending a signal to all his enemies
Jalisco New Generation: 2025-11-27 Cartel war in Michoacan
Jalisco New Generation: 2025-12-22 Cartel Jalisco Lieutenant Ran Terrorist Group from House Arrest for Seven Months
Jalisco New Generation: 2025-12-18 'The Largest Armada.' By blockading Venezuela, Trump is sending a signal to all his enemies
Jalisco New Generation: 2025-11-27 Cartel war in Michoacan
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