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Is Venezuela really involved in drug trafficking?

Is Venezuela really involved in drug trafficking? What about the so-called Cartel de los Soles? What is Tren de Aragua? What about the Venezuelan boats targeted by the U.S.? Why should people in the U.S. care? Where can I find reliable information? What can I do?
Answer

The 2025 UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report is crystal clear:

  • Venezuela is free of coca cultivation and international cartels.
  • Only a small amount of Colombian drug production passes through Venezuela on its way to the U.S. and Europe.

As Pino Arlacchi, former UNODC Executive Director, put it: “For 30 years, annual reports did not address Venezuelan drug trafficking because it does not exist.”