How cocaine smuggling through Latin America really works

Key Takeaways

The U.S. has targeted vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, linking operations to drug-trafficking charges against Nicolás Maduro.
The global cocaine supply chain originates with coca farmers in the Andes and involves complex processing and trafficking networks.
Cocaine routes shifted from Colombia to Mexico and later Venezuela due to increased U.S. law enforcement efforts.
Cocaine's price escalates sharply at the U.S. border, with the markup covering significant operational costs and bribes.
Credible accusations exist against Venezuela's military, known as the "Cartel of the Suns," for complicity in drug trafficking.

The U.S. has targeted vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific suspected of carrying cocaine, leading to at least 115 deaths.
These operations are part of an effort against Venezuela's former leader, Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug-trafficking charges.
The episode traces the cocaine supply chain from its origins to U.S. cities, exploring potential Venezuelan government involvement.

The cocaine supply chain begins with coca plants grown by small farmers in high altitudes of Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.
Coca paste is transported to purification and crystallization facilities, where it is processed into standardized kilogram bricks.
Increased U.S. law enforcement efforts caused trafficking routes to shift from direct Colombian shipments to moving product through Mexico, which had existing smuggling infrastructure.
Mexico consequently became a major transit country, fueling cartel growth, corruption, and violence with billions of dollars injected into the illicit business.

In the 2000s, U.S. crackdowns on Colombian airspace led traffickers to use Venezuela as a transit point, flying cocaine to destinations like Honduras and Mexico.
Venezuela's role in the cocaine supply chain increased with the emergence of cartels and groups operating within the country.
Once cocaine bricks cross the U.S. border, their price significantly increases; a $2,000 investment in South America can yield over $60,000 in the U.S.
This massive markup covers substantial expenses, including bribes to officials and payments to enforcers, as detailed in a U.S. indictment against Nicolás Maduro's government for facilitating cocaine importation.

Reporting indicates credible accusations against Venezuela's military, known as the "Cartel of the Suns," for mass complicity in drug trafficking.
Evidence from past investigations includes pilots moving cocaine and former officials admitting to using airports for trafficking operations.
The U.S. Southern Command has intercepted thousands of pounds of cocaine on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, which the Trump administration attributed to drug traffickers.
International law experts deemed U.S. strikes on Venezuelan soil illegal, with President Trump offering shifting justifications including oil, migration, and drugs.