Answer
The DEA itself admits TDA is not a cartel. It’s a criminal gang involved in small-scale drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking. According to an April 2025 National Intelligence Council memo: Venezuelan security forces view TDA as a threat, not a partner. There is no evidence the government cooperates with or directs TDA operations.
So when U.S. officials claim “Maduro works with cartels,” they’re ignoring their own intelligence.