The President of the United States, Donald Trump, accused former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of being responsible for the deaths of “millions of Americans” due to drug trafficking and the violence generated by his regime, and once again referred to the capture of the Chavista leader in early January as “an incredible operation.”
During a speech at the White House, the president recalled the military operation that led Delta Force to capture Maduro in Caracas and emphasized that “the Venezuelan dictator was responsible for sending poison and destruction to the United States.”
“ We captured and brought to justice the author behind the millions of people affected in our country. It was incredible to see the professionalism, the quality of leadership... incredible,” said Trump, according to a video released by the channel Rapid Response 47 on the social network X.
The president referred to the expansion of alleged criminal networks linked to the Chavista regime, which he blamed for causing a wave of violence, drug trafficking, and murders within the United States.
“Maduro and his accomplices brought the worst criminals in the world to our country. They say it’s the worst gang on the planet, and they have devastated entire communities,” he stated.
Trump stated that he observed the military operation "in real time" and emphasized the performance of the intelligence teams and special forces. "I have never seen anything like it. It was impressive to see the precision and courage with which our men acted. America is proud of them," he added.
The leader reiterated that the capture of Maduro marks a turning point in the hemispheric policy of his administration, aimed at dismantling the networks of narco-terrorism and transnational crime in Latin America. “We are cleansing the hemisphere. No one will dare to challenge the power of the United States again,” Trump stated.
Maduro was arrested on January 3 during a U.S. military operation in Caracas, after being accused by Washington of leading for years a narcoterrorist cartel that used Venezuela as a corridor for drug trafficking to North America and Europe. The operation was carried out under direct orders from President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The former president is currently under international custody awaiting prosecution for charges related to drug trafficking, corruption, and human rights violations. The Trump administration has stated that his arrest signifies "the end of the criminal state" in Venezuela and the beginning of a controlled transition toward a provisional government led by Delcy Rodríguez.
"This is the beginning of a new era for Latin America," concluded Trump. "No more dictators, no more cartels, no more narco-terrorism. We have returned control to the decent people of the region, and we did it with strength, determination, and justice."
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