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Cocaine Trade · Illicit Economy · Money Laundering · Venezuela
Venezuela has become a primary global cocaine launchpad, driven by alleged state complicity from high-ranking officials known as the 'Cartel of the Suns' and its strategic border with Colombia, facilitating vast shipments to North America, Europe, and Africa.
The nation's extensive, unmonitored border with Colombia, the world's largest cocaine producer, allows for easy movement of tonnes of cocaine. The 'Cartel of the Suns' reportedly leverages state resources, including radar and ports, to facilitate drug movements, as claimed by the US Department of Justice.
Maritime routes via the Caribbean, as noted by Reuters, and clandestine airstrips in regions like Zulia and Apure, as revealed by New York Times investigations, serve as critical conduits to the US and European markets. Furthermore, UNODC data indicates Venezuela is a key origin for transatlantic shipments to West Africa, which then funnel into European markets.
Human Rights Watch reports that Colombian rebel groups like ELN and FARC dissidents operate freely within Venezuelan territory, controlling trafficking routes with local security forces' approval. OECD analysts explain that the drug trade is deeply linked with illegal gold mining, where gold is used to launder drug profits, creating a complex 'crime-terror' economy that circumvents international sanctions and finances further illicit activities.
