According to the CNN news networkthe secret list goes beyond the cartels publicly designated as “terrorists” by the president; that is, it includes groups that have not previously been treated with that category.
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It is worth remembering that in February of this year, trump designated as terrorists to the Venezuelan criminal gang Aragua TrainSalvadoran style Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) and the Mexicans Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Northeast Cartel, Gulf Cartel, La Nueva Familia Michoacana and United Cartels.
The Tocorón prison, in the state of Aragua, where the Aragua Train was born. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP).
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While last September Ecuadorian criminal gangs entered this list The Choneros and The Wolves.
The legal logic behind the classified opinion of the Department of Justice argues that these groups may represent a “imminent threat”” for American citizens, which would justify the use of lethal force.
Thus, the Department of Justice emphasizes that The president has the power to allow drug traffickers designated as enemy combatants (terrorists) to be summarily executed. without legal review.
CNN stated that Historically, those involved in drug trafficking have been considered criminals with due process rights.. Typically, the Coast Guard has intercepted their drug-laden boats and arrested their occupants.
But now, according to the videos released by the administration itself trumpthe boats of the alleged drug traffickers are bombed.
“According to this logic, when faced with any small, medium or large group that is trafficking drugs into the United States, the administration could claim that it amounts to an attack against USA and respond with lethal force.”said a former Pentagon lawyer who was quoted in the Justice Department document seen by CNN.
The news network maintained that the Trump administration’s intensified campaign against the cartels also includes expanding CIA authorities to carry out lethal actions and conduct covert operations in the region.
Maduro and the Cartel of the Suns
The United States offers 50 million dollars for the capture of Nicolás Maduro. (State Department).
Since August USA has deployed eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine in international waters in the southern Caribbeanoff the coast of Venezuelato combat the drug trafficking. In addition, you have confirmed shipping to Puerto Rico of 10 F-35 fighter planes.
For Venezuela, it is a siege that seeks to force the fall of Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Trump has not openly talked about regime change in Venezuela.
USA formally accused Nicolás Maduro of drug trafficking, and of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns, since March 26, 2020during the first Trump administration.
The Chavista leader has always denied the accusations.
The current American pressure on Ripe It began last July 25, when The United States designated the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization and reaffirmed that the Chavista leader is its leader, along with its military and political leadership.
Members of the Venezuelan Army march during a military parade for Independence Day, in Caracas, on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP).
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In that sanction, the United States stated that the Cartel of the Suns provides material support to organizations such as the Aragua Train and the Sinaloa Cartel.
In Augustthe State Department announced that the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest will be doubled to $50 million.
Drug trafficker as well as terrorist
A “narcoterrorist” ship from Venezuela, which was shot down by the United States Armed Forces in Caribbean waters, on September 2, 2025. (Video capture)
The international analyst Francisco Belaunde Matossian he told The Commerce that the combination between the doctrine of “targeted attacks” from the Department of Justice and Trump’s rhetoric mark a turning pointsince the United States would be redefining the use of force in the region under the anti-drug banner, but in a line extremely weak legal and ethicalwith potential serious consequences in Latin America.
He explained that the current policy of USA against cartels is equivalent, in practice, to summary executions of drug traffickers.
“This is a debatable extension of that rule that allows USA attack the islamic terrorists. So, the discussion is to what extent a drug dealer is the same as a terroristto the extent that a drug trafficker does not seek to attack the United States, but rather does his illicit business, which is a lethal business, of course, but which does not have the objective of attacking the United States as such.”said Belaunde.
He stressed that the classified opinion of the Department of Justice that authorizes these attacks does not have independence or technical solidity, since that department is currently dominated by figures loyal to Donald Trump.
He warned that these actions could be questioned or even investigated in the future by a Congress or a different administration in the United States, due to the absence of a legal basis and the possible violations of international law that may be incurred.
Belaunde stated that both the naval deployment in the Caribbean and the legal opinion of the Department of Justice, “They seem to indicate that there will be military action by the United States against Venezuela”.
He argued that Washington could try to justify it legally said action alleging that the elected president Edmundo González Urrutia (whom the US recognizes as legitimate) requested interventionalthough Maduro continues to be the one who exercises de facto power. That would be—according to the analyst—the only possible coverage in international law for a military intervention in the Caribbean country.
Finally, he stated that this doctrine could reopen the era of US interventions in Latin Americaalthough with a new argument: the war against drug trafficking.
He indicated that some governments like that of Ecuador could support those actionsdue to inability to confront crime or political convenience, while others, such as Mexico, would categorically reject that model.
