Late December 2025, AP sources described a drone strike on a docking area along Venezuela’s coast believed to be used by drug cartels. The AP report, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the mission, said the strike was carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency. The operation is notable as the first known direct U.S. action on Venezuelan soil since a broader campaign against the Maduro government began earlier in the year. Trump publicly referenced the strike in interviews and remarks, but neither the CIA nor the White House has publicly confirmed CIA involvement.
According to AP, two unnamed sources described the mission as part of a broader U.S. effort to pressure Nicolás Maduro’s government and disrupt drug-trafficking networks linked to Venezuela. A U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) spokesperson said SOCOM did not support the operation in question, underscoring questions about the role of various U.S. agencies in covert actions.
The strike reportedly targeted a docking area along the Venezuelan coast suspected of serving drug networks. It is framed by U.S. officials as an escalatory signal in the Caribbean and Latin American theater as Washington presses Caracas to curb drug-trafficking and improve security cooperation in the region. Maduro’s government has not publicly acknowledged or confirmed involvement or awareness of the strike, and there has been no official U.S. confirmation of CIA involvement.
Experts and policymakers say the episode raises enduring questions about oversight, legality, and accountability for covert actions. Analysts caution that direct U.S. strikes on foreign soil can complicate future diplomacy, risk miscalculation, and blur the lines between intelligence activities and overt policy moves. Proponents argue that targeted disruption of narcotics networks may be warranted as part of a broader national-security strategy, provided proper authorization and stringent oversight are in place.
As Atlanta and Washington continue to discuss and shape the scope of counter-narcotics and counter-trafficking efforts, questions remain about what additional actions may be taken, how they will be disclosed to the public, and how international partners respond to unilateral strikes attributed to a foreign government. AP will continue to seek confirmation from involved agencies and will report any official statements as they become available.