U.S. Senator Rubio accuses Maduro of being a 'drug trafficking, terrorist leader' posing a threat to the U.S., a year after the controversial election in Venezuela.
The Cartel de los Soles, also known as the Cartel of the Suns, has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist." This designation comes amidst escalating pressure from the Trump administration against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The name Cartel de los Soles is derived from the sun insignias often portrayed on the uniforms of Venezuelan military officials. The U.S. alleges that the group is headed by Maduro and other high-ranking individuals in his regime.
The Cartel de los Soles is said to support Tren de Aragua, a terrorist organization classified by the Trump administration, in its objective of using illegal narcotics as a weapon against the United States. The U.S. claims the Venezuela-based group provides material support to Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles in 2020, stated that the new action exposes the illegitimate Maduro regime's facilitation of narco-terrorism through terrorist groups like Cartel de los Soles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Maduro of being the leader of this designated narco-terrorist organization.
Rubio has also criticised Maduro for holding municipal elections, claiming that he manipulates Venezuela's electoral system to maintain his illegitimate grip on power. He further stated that by scheduling the municipal elections on the eve of the anniversary of the stolen July 28 presidential election, the regime aims to suppress the will of the Venezuelan people.
The Justice Department charged Maduro and 14 other Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and other criminal charges in March 2020. The municipal elections are happening one day before the one-year anniversary of Venezuela's presidential election, which was widely condemned as illegitimate.
The U.S. alleges that the Cartel de los Soles uses its power to traffic narcotics into the United States. The group is accused of corrupting various institutions of the Venezuelan government, including the military, intelligence apparatus, legislature, and judiciary.
The State Department increased its reward for information leading to Maduro's capture from $15 million to up to $25 million at the start of this year. The Treasury Department plans to continue cracking down on violent organizations including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and their facilitators, like Cartel de los Soles.
Rubio has stated that Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government. The designation of Cartel de los Soles as a global terrorist organization is a significant step in the U.S.'s ongoing efforts to combat narco-terrorism and support democracy in Venezuela.
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