Venezuela seizes over 55 tons of drugs so far in 2025
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Venezuela's Defense Minister highlights record drug seizures and emphasizes the massive participation of the people and the Bolivarian Militia as an expression of patriotism.
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Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez reads a flyer titled in Spanish: "The Esequibo is Venezuela's," during news conference at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, October 31, 2023. (AP)
Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino López presented on Sunday an update on the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) in their fight against drug trafficking, as well as progress in the enlistment campaign of the Bolivarian Militia.
According to teleSUR reports, Padrino denounced that the United States uses the pretext of the fight against drugs to justify its military deployment in the Caribbean and affirmed that Venezuela is preparing to respond to any aggression.
Padrino López reported that between January and August 2025, authorities seized 55,800 kilograms of drugs, along with 160 rifles and 134,000 rounds of ammunition.
During the operations, the FANB destroyed:
- 21 drug trafficking camps
- 36 logistical structures
- 7 clandestine shipyards
- 401 aircraft
- 94 airstrips
- 110 boats
- 7 semi-submersibles used for maritime drug transport
In addition, 248,000 liters of fuel destined for criminal networks were confiscated. Patrols were strengthened in strategic areas to combat related crimes such as smuggling, illegal mining, and human trafficking.
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Deployment at the border
The minister highlighted the deployment of 15,000 military personnel and militiamen to Peace Zone No. 1, which includes the states of Táchira and Zulia, aimed at securing the border with Colombia, clearing drug trafficking corridors, and creating conditions for productive development in the binational area.
For his part, Admiral José Rafael Hernández Abchi, commander of the Maritime and Insular Strategic Region of Integral Defense, explained that Operation Sifontes maintains maritime and river patrols across 3,500 waterways in Delta Amacuro, with coverage extending to Sucre and Guayana Esequiba.
Militia enlistment and national sovereignty
Regarding the campaign “Yo Me Alisto” (I Enlist), Padrino López highlighted the massive participation of the people and the Bolivarian Militia as a show of patriotism in the face of what he described as “submissive” stances by opposition sectors.
He also announced that in the coming months, new phases of the Simón Bolívar National Plan for Sovereignty and Peace will be launched, including the expansion of militia enlistment across the country.
“Fighting drug trafficking is not done with Tomahawk missiles or F-35 fighter jets; it’s done with territorial control and coherent policies. That is what we are executing,” the Defense Minister emphasized.
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