DEA Chief Says 'Narco-Terrorist State' Venezuela is Working With Colombian Guerilla Groups to Ship Cocaine Through Mexico

The head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terry Cole, accused Venezuela of collaborating with Colombian guerrilla groups to ship "record amounts of cocaine" to Mexican cartels trafficking into the United States.

During an interview with Fox News, Cole said that "Venezuela has become a narco-terrorist state that continues to work with the FARC and the ELN of Colombia to send record amounts of cocaine from Venezuela to the Mexican cartels, which continue entering the United States."

Cole added that despite efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle trafficking networks, U.S. authorities have already seized more cocaine in 2025 than in previous years, warning of rising amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

He also repeated claims made repeatedly by President Trump that the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, which was deemed an Foreign Terrorist Organziation by the administration earlier this year, is affiliated to the Maduro regime:

"Venezuelan corruption, the Venezuelan dictatorship, is narco-terrorist. They keep sending this poison to the United States, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, not to mention the members of the Tren de Aragua gang they send to our country to destroy its beautiful streets"

The accusations come amid the deployment of three U.S. Aegis guided-missile destroyers with 4,000 troops to Caribbean waters near Venezuela, part of Trump's push to use the military against cartels. A U.S. official confirmed to CBS News on Thursday that the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson will operate in the region for several months in support of counter-narcotics efforts.

In response to the U.S. activity, Maduro announced on Monday the mobilization of more than 4.5 million militia members, citing threats from Washington. "The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela's peace and tranquility," he said at an event.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the United States is ready to "use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country." She also called President Nicolás Maduro's government "a narco-terror cartel."

Earlier this month, the Trump administration doubled its reward for Maduro's arrest to $50 million, renewing accusations that he is a leading drug trafficker. Maduro was indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, along with several close associates.