The Trump administration has formally designated drug cartels operating in the Caribbean as “unlawful combatants” and “non-state armed groups,” stating that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States. This declaration coincides with an increased US military presence in the Caribbean, which has included the deployment of ships and personnel to Puerto Rico.
This initiative aligns with the US government’s broader anti-drug trafficking strategy, which has focused on specific organizations and individuals. Earlier this year, the administration classified several criminal groups, including Mexican cartels, the MS-13 gang, the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua, and the Cartel de los Soles, as “terrorist” organizations.
The US government has long accused the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, previously offering a $50 million bounty for Maduro’s arrest. A co-defendant and former high-ranking Venezuelan military intelligence chief recently pleaded guilty to narco-terrorism charges. Administration officials have also stated that vessels were carrying members of Tren de Aragua with drugs destined for the US, though no evidence was provided for this claim.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/02/trump-administration-caribbean-drug-cartels