Trump’s boat strikes may leave one Venezuelan drug-smuggling pirate haven in ruins
The Trump administration's crackdown on illegal drug smuggling has reportedly prompted an economic collapse of one Venezuelan city.
Güiria, a port city dependent on the smuggling of illicit narcotics and other contraband, is facing economic challenges following the Trump administration's strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats.
'Everything is practically dead.'
The administration has launched numerous strikes in the Caribbean Sea in waters close to Venezuela in an effort to end the trafficking of drugs into the U.S.
"As we've said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be 'lethal, kinetic strikes,'" Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated. "The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization."
"Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict — and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command," Hegseth added.
Several Güiria residents claim the strikes have brought their town's economy to a standstill, according to a Friday report from Reuters.
RELATED: Trump confirms call with Maduro after report of alleged regime-change ultimatum
The news outlet noted that Güiria "survives mostly on maritime smuggling of contraband, including drugs," and it is also "partly sustained by informal trade in food and other goods with Trinidad and Tobago."
"There was only movement in stores recently because of government bonus payments; otherwise, there's no money circulating," a food store clerk told Reuters.
"No boats of any kind are leaving for Trinidad and Tobago any more — not migrants, not people buying goods there to sell here, and certainly not those taking Venezuelan products to sell there, which was another way to make money. Everything is practically dead," she stated.
The residents also reported an increase in the number of security personnel in the town since mid-September.
"They pass through the same areas many times, at all hours. Before, they weren't so persistent; now they're everywhere all the time," a community leader told Reuters, referring to the security personnel.
"They're all organized by the government — civilians and police go together supervising the streets," another individual told the news outlet. "Everything seems calm except for the increased surveillance in the town."
President Donald Trump has reportedly presented Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro with an ultimatum to relinquish control and flee the country.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Why The Trump Administration Doesn’t Need To Bring Regime Change To Venezuela To Protect Americans
President Donald Trump is filling a dangerous power vacuum in the Americas opened up by the Biden administration.US strike against military targets in Venezuela could begin at any moment: Report
Trump's administration is getting ready to order a military strike against targets in Venezuela, according to a Miami Herald report.
The reported goal of the strike would be to decapitate the leadership of the drug-trafficking organization headed by Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
'What’s worse for him, there is now more than one general willing to capture and hand him over.'
The sources would not say if Maduro himself would be a target of the strike.
"Maduro is about to find himself trapped and might soon discover that he cannot flee the country even if he decided to," the source is quoted as saying. "What’s worse for him, there is now more than one general willing to capture and hand him over, fully aware that one thing is to talk about death, and another to see it coming."
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly released a statement seemingly rejecting the report.
"Unnamed sources don’t know what they’re talking about. Any announcements regarding Venezuela policy would come directly from the president," she said.
The Trump administration had previously announced a $50 million reward for Maduro's capture in August. It has also destroyed various boats that were reportedly in use by traffickers to bring drugs to the U.S.
"Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!" said Trump at the time.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California responded to the report and vehemently opposed the decision.
"Trump is getting ready to launch strikes inside Venezuela," wrote Khanna on social media. "This is blatantly unconstitutional. Congress must speak up now to stop another endless, regime-change war."
The Wall Street Journal also confirmed the report and that the strike would be a message to Maduro that it is time for him to step down.
Military expert Mark Cancian told the Herald that the military forces in the Caribbean were enough for a strike but not for an invasion.
"There isn’t enough combat power for an invasion," he said, "but there is plenty for air or missile strikes against the cartels or the Maduro regime."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
www.theblaze.com