Colombian President Gustavo Petro has alleged that the United States carried out an air strike on what he described as a suspected cocaine-processing site in the Venezuelan port city of Maracaibo.
In a post shared on X, Petro said the site may have been involved in transforming coca paste into cocaine. His remarks followed comments from Donald Trump, who confirmed that US forces had struck a docking area in Venezuela believed to be linked to drug-trafficking operations. It remains unclear whether both leaders were referring to the same location.
Petro further suggested that the facility may have been associated with the ELN guerrilla group, which exerts influence in parts of the Catatumbo border region known for cocaine production. He accused the group of enabling increased instability and external intervention inside Venezuela.
Trump said the strike took place “in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” as part of ongoing anti-narcotics efforts.
Venezuelan authorities have not issued an official response to the reported strike. Over recent years, the US has intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government, accusing it of involvement in drug trafficking while imposing sanctions and maritime restrictions. Washington has reported dozens of similar operations against suspected drug-transport boats across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
