Cartel de los Soles: The Chávez-Sinaloa drug cartel

U.S. authorities claim that the Chávez regime created a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking cartel, which Maduro "inherited" to stay in power, trafficking 250 tons of drugs annually.

Donald Trump had called Venezuela a narco-state and Maduro a threat to U.S. national security, thus justifying possible intervention.

According to a 2020 federal investigation, Maduro ran the Cartel del los Soles, a drug smuggling network. This network is allegedly linked to the Marxist FARC rebels and the Tren de Aragua gang.

Former military intelligence chief General Hugo Carvajal ("El Pollo") provided incriminating information about the Maduro regime.

In 2015, two nephews of Maduro were arrested in Haiti with 800 kg of cocaine, money intended to finance their aunt's campaign.