The organization Cartel de los Soles – Cartel of the Suns – is designated by the United States as a drug cartel that smuggles narcotics into the United States. The decision to label the cartel as a “foreign terrorist organization” is made with reference to threats to US domestic security.
The marking is expected to take place on Monday in Washington, DC, and is part of several measures that the United States and President Donald Trump are taking against Venezuela.
Sunken ship
Recently, over 20 ships from Venezuela have been sunk by the US military, resulting in around 80 deaths. The US refers to the ships being involved in drug smuggling from Venezuela and holds the country's President Maduro partly responsible for the activities.
In addition, the US Navy has ordered the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford to the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela. Perhaps the US's foremost aircraft carrier is accompanied by an armada of warships with both attack and support capabilities.
Several airlines have stopped flying to Venezuela after the US aviation authority FAA warned against flights over Venezuelan territory due to the risk of conflict.
Venezuela's authoritarian leader Maduro has responded by putting the country on war alert.
Both Maduro and US President Donald Trump have simultaneously hinted at possible talks between the two countries.
Corrupt military personnel
Maduro's rule is also being questioned in Venezuela by an opposition that is forced to stay hidden or has gone into exile due to reprisals, harassment and violence.
Among those who have not left the country, but remain in hiding, is opposition leader María Corina Machado Parisca, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December.
At the same time, questions are being asked about the activities of the organization designated by the United States.
The US reference to the Solarna Cartel as a drug organization is partly misleading, writes the AP news agency. The term was coined in the 1990s by residents of Venezuela and referred to appointed military officers who made a living from drug trafficking. The designation was later expanded to include corruption, including mining contracts and oil fraud among police and military personnel under former President Hugo Chavez and current leader Maduro.
The suns in the designation are a reference to the suns found on the rank insignia of high-ranking officers.
