Trump Announces U.S. Will Soon Target Venezuelan Drug Traffickers by Land

ABERDEEN, Texas — November 28, 2025 — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States will soon begin efforts to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers by land, expanding on current operations that have primarily targeted maritime routes.

Speaking to U.S. service members on Thanksgiving at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, Trump praised the Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing for their role in deterring Venezuelan drug networks. He noted that recent efforts have significantly reduced trafficking by sea, which accounts for about 85% of the interdictions.

“In recent weeks, you’ve been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many,” Trump said. “Of course, there aren’t too many coming in by sea anymore. Have you probably noticed that?”

The president emphasized the deadly impact of drugs entering the United States, stating that traffickers are responsible for killing “hundreds of thousands of people a year” through the poisons they bring into the country. He added that the U.S. is already taking substantial action to address the problem.

“You probably noticed that now people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” Trump said. “We warn them, ‘stop sending poison to our country.’”

Earlier this month, Trump did not rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. ground troops to Venezuela as part of the administration’s crackdown on criminal networks linked to the country’s leadership and drug exports. “No, I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything,” he said on Nov. 17 when asked about sending troops to Venezuela.

Since early September, U.S. military strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean have destroyed dozens of vessels tied to Venezuelan and Colombian criminal groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional. These operations have included precision strikes on narcotics vessels, with U.S. Southern Command releasing footage of such actions.

Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and related violence, highlighting a shift toward expanding interdiction efforts from maritime to land routes.

Written By

Alison Grant

Alison Grant writes about jobs, inflation, corporate power and household finances. She focuses on how economic trends show up in paychecks, bills and everyday decisions for workers, families and small business owners.

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