The United States will designate the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Nov. 16.
The administration has alleged that the Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials in the Venezuelan government and manages an international cocaine-smuggling operation. Maduro has denied the allegation.
The U.S. State Department will designate the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) effective Nov. 24, Secretary Marco Rubio said in a statement published on the department’s website.
The move, which increases federal authorities’ ability to prosecute and pursue the organization, comes amid increasing tensions with Maduro’s socialist regime in Venezuela….
US to Designate Cartel Allegedly Run by Maduro as Terrorist Organization: Rubio
