US deploys warships near Venezuela to fight drug cartels
The US is reportedly deploying three missile destroyers and thousands of Marines to waters off Venezuela as President Donald Trump continues his crackdown on drug cartels.
Aegis guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham and USS Sampson will soon be moved to the area, unnamed sources briefed on the matter told Reuters and NBC.
About 4000 Marines and soldiers, several P-8 spy planes, warships and at least one attack submarine would also be deployed as part of the operation, the source told Reuters.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson. Picture: EPA/ US navy/ Robert Winn
The move comes as the Trump administration is ramping up its efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the country.
In February, it designated Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua and other Latin American gangs as 'foreign terrorist organisations'.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration could use the designations to target cartels earlier this month.
'It allows us to now target what they're operating and to use other elements of American power, intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever … to target these groups if we have an opportunity to do it,' he said.
'We have to start treating them as armed terrorist organisations, not simply drug dealing organisations.
USS Gravely destroyer. Picture: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
When asked about the deployment of the three warships and the possibility of boots on the ground on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Trump is prepared to use the full extent of US power to combat the flow of illicit drugs into the nation.
'With respect to Venezuela, President Trump has been very clear and consistent — he's prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,' she said.
Ms Leavitt said the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is 'not the legitimate government of Venezuela' but rather a 'narco-terror cartel'.
'Maduro, it is the view of this administration, is not a legitimate president. He is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States.'
Mr Maduro, whose past two election victories have not been recognised by the US, was indicted in a US federal court in 2020 on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine.
Mr Maduro faces up to life in prison if he can be tried and is convicted. At the time of the indictment, he slammed what he called 'spurious, false' accusations.
Karoline Leavitt said Ms Maduro's regime is a 'narco-terror cartel'. Picture: AP /Evan Vucci
US offers $50m for information leading to Maduro's arrest
Ms Leavitt earlier this month announced the US is doubling its reward for information leading to the arrest of Mr Maduro to $50 million and vowed he will be 'held accountable for his despicable crimes'.
The Justice Department has accused Mr Maduro of leading a cocaine trafficking gang called 'The Cartel of the Suns' which shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the US over two decades, earning hundreds of millions of dollars.
Investigators say the cartel worked hand-in-hand with the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which the US has labelled a terrorist organisation.
The Trump administration announced sanctions against the group and Mr Maduro's administration last month.
Donald Trump is 'prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding' into the US, said Ms Leavitt. Picture: Mandel Ngan / AFP
Mr Maduro said this week he would deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to US 'threats'. Picture: Federico Parra / AFP
'To date, the DEA (US Drug Enforcement Administration) has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons linked to Maduro himself.'
She added the US government has seized more than $700 million in Maduro-linked assets, including two Venezuelan government aircraft since September last year. Yet Maduro's Reign of Terror continues,' she said.
'Under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.'
Maduro mobilising millions of militia after US 'threats'
Mr Maduro said this week he would deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to US 'threats,' after Washington raised the bounty for his arrest and launched anti-drug operations in the Caribbean.
In an address on state media on Monday, Mr Maduro said he would this week 'activate a special plan with more than 4.5 million militiamen to ensure coverage of the entire national territory – militias that are prepared, activated and armed'.
Mr Maduro said he would deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to US 'threats'. Picture: Juan Barreto / AFP
Mr Maduro lambasted 'the renewal of extravagant, bizarre, and outlandish threats' from the US.
Although he did not mention the recent US actions specifically, Mr Maduro thanked those who expressed their support in the face of what he called 'rotten refrain' of threats and called on his government's political base to move forward with the formation of peasant and worker militias 'in all industries.'
'Rifles and missiles for the peasant force! To defend the territory, sovereignty, and peace of Venezuela,' he declared.
Official figures say the Venezuelan militia, founded by Mr Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez, contains about 5 million people, however, the actual number is believed to be smaller.
Venezuela's total population is around 30 million.
– With AFP
Originally published as US deploys warships and 4000 Marines to fight drug cartels
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
5 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
China condemns US military buildup off Venezuela coast as foreign interference in regional affairs
China on Thursday condemned an American military buildup off the coast of Venezuela amid the Trump administration's effort to combat drug cartels, accusing Washington of engaging in foreign interference. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was speaking with reporters when she was asked about the naval deployment. "China opposes any move that violates the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and a country's sovereignty and security," Ning said. "We oppose the use or threat of force in international relations and the interference of external forces in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext." "We hope that the United States will do more things conducive to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region," she added. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House. At least three Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham among them — are part of the mission that includes thousands of Marines. "On day one of the Trump Administration, the president published an executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, clearly identifying them as a direct threat to the national security of the United States," Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday. "These cartels have engaged in historic violence and terror throughout our Hemisphere — and around the globe — that has destabilized economies and internal security of countries but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals and vicious gangs." In response to "outlandish threats" by the U.S., Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he would deploy 4.5 million militia members. The show of military force comes as the Trump administration continues to demand that Maduro be held accountable for drugs being smuggled into the U.S. The administration has labeled Maduro's regime as a "narco-terror cartel." Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the South American leader. Meanwhile, the Justice Department said it has seized more than $700 million in assets tied to the embattled dictator, including two private jets and nine luxury vehicles. Maduro, indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges, has clung to power with military backing and allegedly with support from Russia, China and Cuba. Originally published as China condemns US military buildup off Venezuela coast as foreign interference in regional affairs
Sky News AU
35 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Donald Trump's massive $778 million civil fraud fine in AG Letitia James' case thrown out by New York appeals court
President Trump won a huge, symbolic victory Thursday when a New York appeals court threw out the more than $500 million ($778 million AUD) fine he owed in Attorney General Letitia James' business fraud case. The Appellate Division, First Department, overturned the whopping $464 million judgment against Trump, 79, but upheld a finding that the real estate tycoon-turned-president engaged in fraud by exaggerating his net worth for decades. 'I had a victory today. You know, they stole $550 million from me with a fake case, and it was overturned,' Trump told dozens of law enforcement officers later Thursday during a visit related to his crime crackdown in Washington, DC. But the case, stemming from a civil suit brought by James' office, still remains in place and will now go to New York's highest court as the legal battle between the state's top lawyer and the commander in chief continues. The 323-page decision included three separate opinions, but three of the five judges agreed the fine against Trump — which had grown to $515 million including interest — was 'excessive.' 'While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well crafted to curb defendants' business culture, the court's disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,' the main opinion by Judges Dianne T. Renwick and Peter H. Moulton read. Still, the five-judge panel kept in place a ban on Trump and his two eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, from running a company in New York for several years. And the ruling kept in place an order for an outside monitor to oversee and file reports on the Trump Organization's business dealings for three years. Those parts of the ruling had been on hold while the appeal was decided. And Trump posted a $175 million bond in place of paying the entire judgment during the appeal process. The interest and fines against everyone in the case — including Don Jr. and Eric, and other Trump Org. execs — have ballooned to over $527 million since the February 2024 ruling from Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron. Thursday's decision was a blow to James — whose office prosecuted Trump — and to Engoron, as at least two appellate judges found Engoron made 'errors' in his rulings on the case. James accused Trump and others of carrying out a 'staggering fraud' by inflating his net worth by billions of dollars over a decade to get better loan and insurance terms. But the Republican commander-in-chief maintained his innocence, claiming that he was a target of the AG's politically motivated prosecution. Trump lauded the ruling in two lengthy posts on Truth Social, repeating claims that the case was a 'political witch hunt.' 'TOTAL VICTORY in the FAKE New York State Attorney General Letitia James Case!,' Trump posted. 'I greatly respect the fact that the Court had the Courage to throw out this unlawful and disgraceful Decision that was hurting Business all throughout New York State.' James, in her own statement, glossed over the fact that the judgment was vacated, also playing the decision off as a victory. 'The First Department today affirmed the well-supported finding of the trial court; Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud.' James said her office would appeal. The five-judge panel was starkly divided on various issues. Two of the judges found James' suit was valid and that she proved Trump committed fraud but felt the fine against him was too harsh. One judge said Engoron made a mistake by ruling that Trump was liable for fraud before the bench trial. Another judge, Justice David Friedman, said James didn't have the authority to bring the case against Trump in the first place, noting the institutions that lent money to the president could have sued him if they felt aggrieved. Friedman — who issued the most scathing opinion among the three against James and Engoron — said the trial judge wrongly sided with the AG on a range of issues, including by crediting the testimony of ex-con Michael Cohen and when he doled out sanctions against Trump's lawyers for 'playing the role they are supposed to.' The fact Engoron hit Trump's team with sanctions, 'raises serious doubts about the trial court's objectivity and impartiality in presiding over and adjudicating this action,' Friedman wrote in his dissent. As for James, Friedman blasted: 'Plainly, her ultimate goal was not 'market hygiene' … but political hygiene, ending with the derailment of President Trump's political career and the destruction of his real estate business. 'The voters have obviously rendered a verdict on his political career. This bench today unanimously derails the effort to destroy his business.' Since there wasn't a majority reached in Thursday's decision, the case can automatically qualify to be heard in the Empire State's top court — the New York Court of Appeals. Trump's side can seek to put the non-monetary punitive measures, like the ban on him running the business, on hold again during further appeal, the panel said. The appeal court's decision came after a theatrical, 11-week trial that threatened to derail Trump's image as a real estate tycoon — and brand him as a fraudster — as he campaigned to regain the White House. Trial evidence revealed that Trump secured cushy interest rates between 2011 and 2021 after goosing up the value of assets like his Big Apple penthouse and Mar-a-Lago estate on financial papers. Trump's business falsely claimed that his Trump Tower triplex was 30,000 square feet — rather than its true size of 11,000 square feet — and used the phony figures to pump up the pad's value to $327 million in 2015 after claiming it was worth $80 million just four years earlier, evidence showed. Trump also valued Mar-a-Lago at $517 million on a financial filing despite his own tax broker admitting to listing the palatial estate's 'market value' at just $27 million in 2020, a witness revealed. 'The frauds found here leap off the page and shock the conscience,' Engoron wrote in his ruling. The case roiled the soon-to-be 47th president, who chose to leave the campaign trail for several days to attend the trial, calling the proceedings a 'political witch hunt' and insisting that he did 'nothing wrong.' Engoron and James are both elected Democrats, and the AG campaigned on a promise to investigate Trump, calling the then-president a 'con man' and ″carnival barker.' Trump's lawyers argued that the case had no 'victims' and that 'sophisticated' companies like Deutsche Bank did their own research before entering into the deals, and were all paid back in full. But James' office argued that Trump's fudged financial filings were nonetheless harmful to the marketplace as a whole — and Engoron agreed. 'The next group of lenders to receive bogus statements might not be so lucky,' he wrote in his ruling. Ed Martin, Trump's political weaponization czar, called for James to step down as the Empire State's top lawyer after he launched a probe into allegations that she committed mortgage fraud on a Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home. Martin, the director of the Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group, even showed up outside James' multi-family residential property in Brooklyn last week. 'I'm just happy to be on a block looking at houses,' Martin told a Post reporter at the time. 'I'm just looking at houses, interesting houses. It's an important house.' Trump faced four criminal cases, but appears to have gotten off unscathed in all of them, primarily because he landed back in the White House for another term and benefits again from presidential immunity. Two federal cases, for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot and for allegedly hoarding confidential documents at Mar-a-Lago, were both dropped by the Justice Department soon after he took office in January. 'I'm just happy to be on a block looking at houses,' Martin told a Post reporter at the time. 'I'm just looking at houses, interesting houses. It's an important house.' Trump faced four criminal cases, but appears to have gotten off unscathed in all of them, primarily because he landed back in the White House for another term and benefits again from presidential immunity. Two federal cases, for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot and for allegedly hoarding confidential documents at Mar-a-Lago, were both dropped by the Justice Department soon after he took office in January. Trump was convicted in a 'hush money' case in New York State court but he only received a slap on the wrist. He's appealing that case. And a Georgia election fraud case against him was derailed after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was exposed for having an affair with the lead prosecutor she appointed to prosecute him. Willis was removed from the case and it's been in limbo since. The president is still fighting two civil jury verdicts in the lawsuits brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, accusing Trump of sexually abusing her one time in the 1990s and then defaming her repeatedly by denying her claims and calling her a liar. He is seeking to overturn an $83.3 million verdict in Carroll's defamation suit. And he lost his bid to vacate a $5 million verdict in Carroll's sexual abuse suit. He could still seek to have the US Supreme Court hear his appeal in the latter case. Originally published as Donald Trump's massive $778 million civil fraud fine in AG Letitia James' case thrown out by New York appeals court
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Excessive': Trump rejoices as $700m New York fraud fine tossed out
New York: A Manhattan appeals court struck down a roughly $US500 million ($780 million) fraud penalty against US President Donald Trump and his company, even as it upheld the finding that he broke the law by inflating the value of assets such as Mar-a-Lago. A five-judge panel on Thursday, New York time, agreed with Trump that the size of the fine was unconstitutionally 'excessive'. The long-awaited ruling by New York's intermediate appeals court is a major victory for Trump over New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office brought the case, though other aspects of the April 2024 judgment remain intact. On top of the financial penalty, Trump and his sons faced a temporary ban on serving as corporate officers in New York. The company was also ordered to submit its financial records for review by an independent monitor. Those sanctions stand, though they remain on hold for possible further appeal by Trump. In a statement, James said her office would challenge the ruling at the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. She also stressed that 'yet another court has ruled that the president violated the law'. Still, the massive fine had been the heart of Justice Arthur Engoron's judgment. The judge had ordered Trump last year to pay $US355 million in penalties after finding that he flagrantly padded financial statements provided to lenders and insurers. With interest, the sum has topped $US515 million. Additional penalties for executives at his company, the Trump Organisation, including sons Eric and Donald Trump jnr, have brought the total to $US527 million with interest. The elimination of the fine adds to the list of Trump's legal woes that have essentially melted away since he won re-election as president. The Justice Department dropped two federal criminal cases agaist him, citing a longstanding policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Though he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, he was sentenced to no jail time.
