The United States is strengthening its naval presence in the waters off Venezuela to counter threats posed by drug cartels.
More than 4,000 personnel will be deployed to the area, amid growing tension between Washington and Caracas. The U.S. government has not indicated any intention of a land incursion into the South American nation.
The news follows confirmation last week of three U.S. Aegis guided-missile destroyers being deployed to the waters. Then, more recently, Venezuela announced it would send military vessels to the Caribbean Sea and elsewhere to help combat drug trafficking.
According to the U.S. Navy’s new chief of naval operations, Adm. Daryl Caudle, the ships are being sent to support “Venezuelan operations and missions” involving drug cartels, per AP. Caudle did not specify exactly where the ships are headed.
Caudle referred to concerns that some Venezuelans are taking part in large drug operations. So far, no specific military objectives have been disclosed, with Caudle stating that the information is classified.
In June, The Dallas Express reported that police in Fort Worth arrested 76 suspects for gun and drug crimes, including eight illegal aliens from Venezuela who were facing drug trafficking charges.
“These defendants are charged with trafficking mixtures of powder cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy),” read a release at the time. “They referred to the narcotics they sold as Tusi, which had a distinct pink color, usually indicative of drugs tied to Venezuela.”
President Nicolás Maduro denies accusations about his country’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking, insisting Venezuela is “free of coca leaf crops and free of cocaine production,” per AP.
News of the U.S. presence in the waters off Venezuela prompted Maduro to urge Venezuelans to enlist in a volunteer military intended to support the armed forces in the event of an attack. His ruling party has long claimed the militia’s membership to be more than 4.5 million, a likely exaggerated number.
Earlier in August, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the U.S. doubled the bounty on Maduro to $50 million, alleging he is among the largest narcotics traffickers in the world. Bond said the Justice Department has traced nearly seven tons of seized cocaine tied directly to the Venezuelan leader.