Trump warns on Venezuela, touts maritime strikes and says U.S. will “look very seriously” at cartels by land

By A Staff Reporter

Washington DC: President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that recent U.S. actions against vessels allegedly carrying narcotics from Venezuela have halted maritime drug deliveries and warned that his administration will “look very seriously” at drug cartels operating by land. 

Speaking to the press, Trump described the problem as coming “through water,” using the term “water drugs,” and said U.S. forces have struck a number of boats — actions he said have stopped drugs arriving to the United States by sea. He added that with maritime routes disrupted, the administration will now examine cartel activity overland. 

The remarks come after U.S. military strikes on small vessels in the Caribbean this month that U.S. officials have said were transporting illicit narcotics; the strikes have killed people aboard the targeted boats, according to U.S. statements and media reporting. The White House has also deployed additional naval assets to the southern Caribbean as part of its stated counter-narcotics effort.