Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles: Narco-Terrorism and Global Sanctions

Is the Venezuelan government secretly running one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels—or is this accusation a geopolitical myth designed to justify foreign pressure? In this episode, we examine the explosive claims surrounding the Cartel de los Soles.This episode explores the escalating confrontation between the United States and Venezuela over allegations that senior Venezuelan military and political leaders are involved in a vast narcotrafficking network known as the Cartel de los Soles. U.S. officials describe the group as a narcoterrorist organization embedded at the highest levels of the state, including accusations directed at President Nicolás Maduro himself.In response, the Trump administration imposed a total blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, aiming to cut off what Washington views as a critical source of funding for the regime. Venezuelan authorities, backed by some regional allies, firmly reject these claims, arguing that the cartel is a fabricated narrative used to legitimize sanctions, intervention, and the seizure of national resources.The episode traces the alleged origins of the cartel to Cold War–era corruption and examines how the breakdown of regional cooperation enabled illicit trade routes to expand. It also analyzes the dramatic escalation of U.S. policy, including multimillion-dollar rewards offered for the capture of top Venezuelan officials.As accusations harden and diplomacy fractures, this story sits at the crossroads of crime, politics, and power. Is the Cartel de los Soles a genuine criminal empire—or a strategic tool in a modern geopolitical conflict? Join us as we unpack the facts, the narratives, and the consequences behind one of Latin America’s most controversial allegations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-world-between-us--6886561/support.