The reported capture and indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has refocused attention on alleged links to the Cartel de los Soles. The Trump administration designated the group a Foreign Terrorist Organization in November and ordered an increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, alongside strikes on suspected drug vessels. Analysts trace the cartel label to the 1990s and debate whether the Cartel de los Soles is a formal cartel or a loose network of corrupt officials. U.S. prosecutors allege Maduro has administered the network since 1999, though many claims remain contested and are under legal review.
Cartel de los Soles: What to Know About Alleged Network Tied to Nicolás Maduro
Recent reports that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured and indicted have renewed attention on his alleged ties to an organization long referred to as the Cartel de los Soles.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said the move highlighted Maduro's role: "Maduro is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country. He is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States."
"Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary. Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate government." — U.S. Department of State
U.S. Response
In November, the Trump administration formally designated the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, part of a broader effort to curb drug trafficking into the United States. Around the same time, U.S. officials ordered an increased military presence in the Caribbean and struck vessels suspected of trafficking drugs; U.S. officials have said those strikes resulted in more than 80 deaths.
Origins and Evolution
The phrase "Cartel de los Soles" began circulating in Venezuela in the 1990s to describe senior military officers who had grown wealthy through drug smuggling. Analysts trace the group's origins to the late 1980s as traffickers and corrupt officials reacted to changes in Colombia, which was then the world's largest cocaine producer. The network's influence reportedly grew during the early years of Hugo Chávez's presidency (1999–2013).
Structure and Debate
The exact nature of the Cartel de los Soles is disputed. Some observers describe it as a loose network of corrupt officials rather than a formal criminal organization:
"It is not a group. It's not like a group that people would ever identify themselves as members. They don't have regular meetings. They don't have a hierarchy." — Adam Isaacson, Director for Defense Oversight, Washington Office on Latin America
At the same time, U.S. prosecutors have alleged that Nicolás Maduro has led and administered the organization since 1999. Those allegations are central to ongoing legal and diplomatic actions against Maduro and several senior Venezuelan officials.
What It Means
Designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization carries legal and financial consequences: it can freeze assets, restrict travel, and criminalize support. The dispute over whether the Cartel de los Soles is a centralized cartel or a diffuse network of corrupt actors affects how governments and investigators pursue accountability and remedies.
Note: Many claims remain disputed and are the subject of legal actions and international debate. Reports of capture and indictment should be understood as the subject of evolving news coverage and official confirmation.
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