The Republican congressman Carlos A. Giménez confirmed on Tuesday that the ship sunk by U.S. military forces in the Caribbean belonged to the Cártel de los Soles, an organization linked to the regime of Nicolás Maduro and accused of operating as a branch of Venezuelan drug trafficking.
“From the United States Congress, I can confirm that we have sunk a ship from the Cártel de los Soles coming from Venezuela that was transporting illegal drugs. This is going smoothly. We continue,” wrote Giménez on X, in a message that has garnered over 70 thousand views.
The statement from the Cuban-American congressman came just hours after President Donald Trump announced that the attack left 11 dead, members of the Tren de Aragua, another criminal organization designated as terrorist by Washington.
Trump warned that the operation, conducted in international waters under the command of Southern Command, serves as a "warning" to those who attempt to introduce narcotics into U.S. territory.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, supported the account through his personal social media, asserting that the operation was carried out against a “narco-terrorist” organization that originated from Venezuela heading to the United States.
Reactions in Miami
The confirmation from Giménez added a new political dimension to an already explosive operation in the region. By mentioning the Cártel de los Soles, it places the role of high-ranking Venezuelan military officials accused of collaborating with drug trafficking and maintaining direct ties with Maduro's regime at the center of the debate.
Cuban-American congress members such as María Elvira Salazar and Mario Díaz-Balart also celebrated the military action. Salazar spoke of "zero tolerance for terrorists, traffickers, and gang members," while Díaz-Balart directly thanked the U.S. troops: "God bless our troops".
Giménez, for his part, insisted on maintaining pressure against what he described as "the narco-terrorist networks operating from Venezuela," accusing Maduro's regime of "continuing to poison our communities with lethal drugs".
More tension in the Caribbean
The attack on the Venezuelan ship occurs against a backdrop of increasing regional tension. Washington accuses Caracas of being a refuge and platform for international drug trafficking, while the Maduro government has repeatedly denied these allegations.
The confirmation that the sunken ship was part of the Cártel de los Soles could mark a new point of diplomatic and military friction in the Caribbean, while strengthening the narrative of the Trump administration to directly confront the allies and criminal structures of the Venezuelan regime.
Frequently Asked Questions about the sinking of the Cártel de los Soles ship
Who did the ship sunk by the U.S. in the Caribbean belong to?
The sunken boat belonged to the Cartel of the Suns, an organization linked to the regime of Nicolás Maduro and accused of operating as a branch of Venezuelan drug trafficking. This confirmation was made by Republican Congressman Carlos A. Giménez.
What was the outcome of the U.S. military attack on the ship?
The attack left 11 dead, all of them members of the Tren de Aragua, another criminal organization designated as a terrorist group by Washington. The operation was conducted in international waters under the command of the United States Southern Command.
What is the position of the U.S. regarding the regime of Nicolás Maduro?
The U.S. labels Maduro's regime a narcoterrorist cartel and asserts that it is willing to use all its power to stop drug trafficking to its territory. The Trump administration does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela and accuses him of leading the Cartel of the Suns.
How has the international community reacted to this conflict?
The tension in the region has raised alarms, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has called for an extraordinary meeting to assess the situation. The regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel in Cuba expressed its unconditional support for Venezuela, describing the actions of the U.S. as imperialist threats.
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