Key Takeaways:
- The US has designated the Cartel de los Soles, allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization.
- The designation gives US law enforcement and military agencies broader powers to target and dismantle the group.
- The existence of the Cartel de los Soles is disputed, with Venezuela’s government and some experts calling it a "ridiculous lie" or a "fictional excuse".
- The term Cartel de los Soles originated in the 1990s, referring to Venezuelan officials with alleged links to drug trafficking.
- The group’s activities are believed to have started in the late 1980s and early 1990s, providing alternative routes for cocaine trafficking from Colombia.
Introduction to the Cartel de los Soles
The United States has designated the Cartel de los Soles, a group allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. This designation gives US law enforcement and military agencies broader powers to target and dismantle the group. However, the existence of the Cartel de los Soles is disputed, with Venezuela’s government and some experts calling it a "ridiculous lie" or a "fictional excuse". The term Cartel de los Soles originated in the 1990s, referring to Venezuelan officials with alleged links to drug trafficking.
History of the Cartel de los Soles
The Cartel de los Soles is believed to have started its activities in the late 1980s and early 1990s, providing alternative routes for cocaine trafficking from Colombia. At the time, the powerful Medellín Cartel was being dismantled, and a major counter-narcotics offensive in Colombia was bearing fruit. As established smuggling routes came under pressure, the Cartel de los Soles began to offer alternative ways to transport cocaine from Colombia. The group’s activities strengthened during the early years of the presidency of Hugo Chávez, who led Venezuela from 1999 to his death in 2013. Chávez’s sympathies with Colombia’s left-wing Farc guerrillas, who financed themselves largely through cocaine smuggling, were another factor in re-routing some drug trafficking through Venezuela.
Structure and Activities of the Cartel de los Soles
The Cartel de los Soles differs from other drug networks in that it lacks a formal structure. Instead, it is a system of widespread corruption, fueled by the economic crisis that has engulfed Venezuela under President Maduro. Mid- and lower-ranking officers who control Venezuela’s key entry and exit points, such as airports, make up the Cartel de los Soles, as they are in prime position to facilitate the flow of drugs. The group’s activities have been described as a "system of widespread corruption", with many government officials, from street-level police to the military aviation, involved in drug trafficking.
US Allegations and Designation
The US government alleges that the Cartel de los Soles is led by President Maduro and other high-ranking officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and former military intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal. The US justice department has accused Maduro and 14 others of conspiring with armed Colombian groups to ship cocaine to the United States. The designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization is seen as a way for the US to increase pressure on the Maduro government, which it considers illegitimate. The US is offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of President Maduro and Interior Minister Cabello, with rewards of $50m and $25m respectively.
Venezuelan Government’s Response
The Venezuelan government has long dismissed the drug-trafficking accusations leveled against it as an attempt by the US to justify ousting Maduro. In a statement, the Venezuelan foreign ministry called the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization "a ridiculous fabrication" and insisted that the group was "non-existent". The government has also accused the US of using the Cartel de los Soles as an excuse to target those they do not like. Interior Minister Cabello has denied the allegations, arguing that they are part of an "international conspiracy" against the Venezuelan government.
Expert Opinions
Experts consulted by the BBC say that the truth about the Cartel de los Soles lies somewhere in between the US and Venezuelan government’s claims. Mike LaSusa, an expert in organized crime in the Americas, says that the Cartel de los Soles is not a group per se, but rather a system of widespread corruption. Raúl Benítez-Manau, an organized crime expert from Mexico’s UNAM university, says that the group’s activities started in response to developments in neighboring Colombia and strengthened during the early years of the presidency of Hugo Chávez. Wesley Tabor, a former DEA agent who worked in Venezuela, says that the Farc guerrillas found a safe haven in Venezuela and many government officials became their partners in drug trafficking.