Trump Says U.S. Destroyed ‘Large’ Trafficking Site in Venezuela as Agencies Decline to Confirm

Overview

• In a Dec. 26 WABC radio interview, President Trump said U.S. forces eliminated “a large installation” used by narcotraffickers, offering no location or operational details.
• The New York Times, citing U.S. government members, reported the remark referred to a site in Venezuela, though the specific function of the facility remains unclear.
• The Pentagon and CIA declined to confirm the claim, the White House offered no comment, and Venezuelan authorities have not publicly reported any attack.
• U.S. pressure on Caracas has intensified with warships and aircraft deployed to the region and new measures targeting sanctioned oil tankers.
• Since September, U.S. forces have carried out lethal maritime strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific that reporting says have killed at least 105 people.