Venezuela is deploying 15,000 troops to its border with Colombia to combat drug trafficking, using aircraft, drones, and river patrols, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said. The move follows US naval deployments in the southern Caribbean aimed at Latin American cartels, according to Al Jazeera.
The troop buildup comes amid US accusations linking President Nicolas Maduro and Cabello to the Cartel de los Soles, with rewards of $50m and $25m offered for their capture. Maduro condemned the US, calling it an “imperialist threat,” and launched a nationwide militia drive.
US will send additional naval vessels and 4,500 personnel to the region, reinforcing anti-cartel operations, Al Jazeera reported.
