FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling and said the US military has struck dozens of suspected naval targets in recent months.
US President Donald Trump has ordered a "total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, The Guardian reports .
In a post on Truth Social, he said that Nicolás Maduro's government has been declared a foreign terrorist organization and accused it of stealing American assets. Trump also accused Caracas of terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking.
According to him, the American military presence will expand even further and will be "present like never before in history."
The statements come a week after the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
The White House said the ship, named Skipper, was involved in illegal oil transportation and was being taken to a US port.
The Venezuelan government rejected the action, calling Trump's threat "grotesque."
President Maduro accused Washington of kidnapping the crew and stealing the ship. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling and said the US military has struck dozens of suspected naval targets in recent months.
In parallel, the US has deployed warships to the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford in the Caribbean Sea. Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro called the naval blockade an act of war and warned of a reaction in Congress.
He said US lawmakers will vote on a resolution urging the president to end hostilities with Venezuela.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, and since September the US military has killed at least 90 people in attacks on ships allegedly carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the US.
The US, under the presidency of Trump and former President Joe Biden, has opposed Maduro's government for years and has pressured him to step down by imposing strict sanctions.
$50 million for Maduro's 'head'
In an unprecedented announcement, US authorities have announced a record $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accused of leading a vast international drug trafficking network.
According to the Departments of Justice and State, Maduro has collaborated with known criminal and terrorist organizations to smuggle large quantities of cocaine, often laced with fentanyl, into the United States, causing great human loss.
This move marks the latest escalation in Washington's efforts to bring Maduro to justice and end what they call his "reign of terror."
"Today, the Departments of Justice and State are announcing a historic $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like the TDA, Sinaloa, and the Sons Cartel to bring deadly drugs and violence to our country.
To date, the DEA has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons directly linked to Maduro, constituting a major source of revenue for deadly cartels based in Venezuela and Mexico.
Cocaine is often laced with fentanyl, causing the loss and destruction of countless American lives. The Justice Department has seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets, nine vehicles, and more. Yet his reign of terror continues.
He is one of the world's largest drug traffickers and a threat to our national security. That's why we have doubled his reward to $50 million. Under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and will be held accountable for his heinous crimes.
"If you have any information that could help bring this criminal to justice, call 1-202-307-4228 or visit the website," the US Department of Justice announced.
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