(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, citing the country’s release of prisoners into the United States and drug trafficking as justifications for the escalating U.S. intervention.
The authorization, first reported by The New York Times citing multiple U.S. officials, would allow the CIA to carry out lethal operations against President Nicolas Maduro or his government, either independently or alongside larger military actions.
It is unclear whether any operations are planned or if the authorization is a contingency measure.
“When they’re loaded up with drugs, they’re fair game,” Trump said during a press conference Wednesday, adding that the U.S. has “deep strong information” about vessels leaving Venezuelan territory.
The president also pointed to narcotics trafficking as a primary rationale.
“We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea,” Trump said.
The directive comes amid an intensifying U.S. military campaign in the Caribbean, where naval forces have targeted boats suspected of drug trafficking off Venezuela’s coast, resulting in 27 deaths over recent weeks.
Trump said U.S. forces possess extensive intelligence on suspected drug vessels. “We know before we know when they go out. We have much information about each boat that goes out, deep, strong information,” he said. The president described finding “drug dust” and “fentanyl dust” on boats after strikes.
While the CIA has long worked with regional governments on security and intelligence matters, including operations against cartels in Mexico, this authorization explicitly permits direct lethal operations.
The strategy was developed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, working with CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Rubio has called Maduro illegitimate, and the administration labels him a “narcoterrorist.” The U.S. has offered $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges.
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