US Targets Venezuela’s ‘Los Soles’ as Terrorist Group
Accusations Link Maduro Regime to Drug Trafficking and Hemisphere Destabilization
The United States has officially designated the “Los Soles” cartel as a terrorist organization, directly linking it to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro‘s government. This move signals a significant escalation in US efforts to combat alleged drug trafficking and destabilizing activities across the Americas.
State Department Accusations
The State Department’s office for Latin America stated via its X account that the organization is “Managed by the dictator Nicolás Maduro,” accusing them of supporting “terrorists who invade our country to traffic narcotics, enrich themselves and inflict violence against communities.” The US government asserts that this group provides aid to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Transnational Train of Aragua, both recently labeled as terrorist entities by Washington.
Today, the U.S. designated Los Soles, a drug trafficking organization tied to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his regime, as a Specially Designated Narcotic Trafficker. This action underscores our commitment to disrupting illicit drug flows and holding accountable those who facilitate them. @StateDept @USEmbassyVE @USEUBruxelles @USinEUCOM pic.twitter.com/1nJqfD0V3q
— Narcotics, Law Enforcement and Sanctions (@State_INL) July 25, 2025
This designation empowers the US to employ “all resources at your disposal to prevent Maduro from continuing to benefit from the destruction of US lives and destabilizing the hemisphere.” The Treasury Department confirmed that the group is led by Maduro and other senior Venezuelan government officials and military figures.
Material Support Allegations
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) detailed that “Los Soles” provides “material support” to both the Aragua Train and the Sinaloa Cartel. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent stated, “Today’s action further exposes the facilitation of the illegitimate regime of Maduro to drug trafficking through terrorist groups such as the Suns Cartel.”
The U.S. Treasury Dept. designated Venezuela’s “Los Soles” Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, accusing Nicolás Maduro of leading the drug-trafficking group. pic.twitter.com/L0b5kX044d
— Global News (@GlobalNews) July 25, 2025
The inclusion of “Los Soles” on this list has been a long-standing request from several Republican lawmakers. During Donald Trump‘s presidency, the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Maduro and other Venezuelan officials for drug trafficking and “narcoterrorism.”
Network of Corruption Alleged
Prosecutors previously identified Maduro as the “leader” of “Los Soles,” alleging a network of government corruption that facilitated the movement of vast quantities of cocaine into the United States. The office of the Southern District of New York claimed Maduro brokered deals for cocaine produced by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), allegedly supplying them with weapons.
Maduro is also accused of coordinating drug trafficking operations with Honduras and other nations. A former general implicated in these charges, Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal, is currently awaiting trial in the US after his extradition from Spain.
Venezuelan Rejection
The Venezuelan government has vehemently denied these accusations, terming them as interference. Venezuelan Chancellor Yvan Gil has dismissed the existence of the Aragua Train, calling it a “media fiction.” However, the US stance suggests a persistent effort to dismantle alleged transnational criminal networks connected to the Venezuelan state. In 2023, the UNODC reported that global drug seizures reached a record high, highlighting the ongoing challenges in combating illicit trafficking networks (UNODC, 2024).
