Venezuela Unveils Alleged Terrorist Plot Linked to Colombian Drug Traffickers
Venezuela’s Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, presented what he described as conclusive evidence of a terrorist plot orchestrated by extremist groups in coordination with international drug trafficking networks, during a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, reports 24brussels.
During the session, Cabello disclosed the seizure of high-powered explosives capable of producing a lethal radius of up to 1.2 kilometers. These explosives were allegedly intended for attacks on hospitals, fuel stations, and political figures. The government apprehended 13 individuals connected to a planned bombing in Plaza Venezuela, including a Colombian national identified as “El Titi”, reportedly linked to the La Guajira cartel.
Cabello accused opposition leader María Corina Machado of colluding with Colombian businessmen to disrupt Venezuela’s infrastructure. He also implicated former Colombian presidents Álvaro Uribe, Iván Duque, Juan Manuel Santos, and Andrés Pastrana, alleging they protect narco-paramilitary networks involved in cross-border crime.
Authorities uncovered over 54,000 explosive charges, detonators, and fuel in warehouses located in Maturín, Monagas state. Cabello asserted that these materials were intended for remote detonation via mobile phones and formed part of a comprehensive scheme to “sow terror and chaos” throughout Venezuela.
Referencing the 2025 World Drug Report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cabello emphasized that Venezuela is officially classified as free of illicit crop cultivation and drug processing labs. The report indicates that only 5% of global trafficking routes attempt to pass through Venezuelan territory, contrasting sharply with the nation’s seizure figures.
In 2025, Venezuelan authorities confiscated 51,664 kilograms of narcotics, predominantly cocaine—a figure that exceeds historical seizures recorded by the DEA. Cabello labeled the DEA as “the world’s largest drug cartel,” noting that significant trafficking operations are concentrated along the Pacific corridor, controlled by international criminal organizations.
Cabello further asserted that Colombia has evolved into the primary corridor for international drug trafficking, particularly along its Pacific coastline. He claimed remnants of the Tren de Aragua gang, previously dismantled in Venezuela, are now operating from Colombian territory with political backing.
Venezuela’s current homicide rate stands at 1.92 per 100,000 inhabitants, positioning it among the lowest in Latin America. This starkly contrasts with Colombia, where drug-related violence continues to afflict both rural and urban areas.
In closing, Cabello reiterated Venezuela’s commitment to regional peace and counterterrorism, indicating further disclosures in upcoming parliamentary sessions. Ongoing investigations into the financial networks supporting these plots will continue.
