A senior U.S. official revealed that many boats targeted by the Trump administration for drug trafficking lacked the capacity to reach the U.S. Additionally, U.S. intelligence indicated that little to no fentanyl trafficked to the U.S. originates from Venezuela, despite the administration's claims linking Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to drug trafficking. The article also discusses the underlying motives of the Trump administration regarding regime change in Venezuela.

Senator Rand Paul criticized Donald Trump's military airstrikes against alleged drug trafficking boats off Venezuela's coast, labeling them as "extrajudicial killings." He expressed concern over the lack of congressional oversight and evidence regarding the operations, contrasting his stance with other Republican support for the strikes and highlighting the potential legal implications of such military actions.

The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, claims to have captured alleged mercenaries linked to the CIA, accusing the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago of planning military provocations against Venezuela. The assertion coincides with a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean aimed at combating drug cartels, which Venezuela links to a potential pretext for war. The Maduro regime warns of threats to its sovereignty and maintains that its armed forces will remain vigilant.