At the White House, Trump said that the United States is planning to take tough action against drug trafficking gangs in the coming days.
What you should know
The United States is preparing to tighten its crackdown on drug trafficking gangs. US President Donald Trump has said he has authorized the CIA to operate in Venezuela to control drugs and crack down on gangs.
South American countries have strongly objected to this decision. In recent weeks, US forces have attacked several ships suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea five times. International media reported that 27 people were killed.
UN human rights experts have called the operation an unlawful killing. At the White House, Trump said that the US is planning to take tougher action against drug trafficking gangs in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has appealed for peace with the US on television. According to a report in the New York Times, Trump's permission could allow the CIA to launch a campaign in Venezuela unilaterally or as part of a broader US military operation.
There is currently no clear information about what kind of campaign the CIA is preparing in Venezuela. But this spy agency has a long history in South America.
Trump questioned the New York Times report while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
When asked by a reporter why he had allowed the CIA to go to Venezuela, Trump said, “I allowed it for two reasons. One – Venezuela brought its prisoners to the United States. And the other reason is drugs. A lot of drugs come from Venezuela. A lot of it comes by sea. But we’re going to stop them on land now.”
