Colombian President Gustavo Petro said yesterday that a United States strike hit what is believed to be a cocaine-processing facility in the Venezuelan city of Maracaibo. Speaking on X, Petro stated that his government had information indicating the site may have been used to convert coca paste into cocaine.
Petro’s comments came a day after former US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States had conducted a strike on a dock area in Venezuela used for alleged drug-smuggling operations. It has not yet been clarified whether both leaders were referring to the same target.
In a detailed message, Petro suggested the facility may have been associated with the ELN guerrilla group, which maintains influence in the Catatumbo border region known for cocaine production. He further argued that the group’s activities were contributing to instability across the region.
Trump said the operation targeted a location “where they load the boats up with drugs.” Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government has not issued any formal response regarding the reported land strike.
The United States has continued to apply pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, previously accusing his administration of involvement in drug trafficking activities. Reports also indicate the US has carried out multiple strikes on vessels allegedly engaged in drug transportation across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific in recent years.
