Marco Rubio says Nicolás Maduro’s Cartel de los Soles to be designated a terrorist organization
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday that the Cartel de los Soles, a powerful criminal network tied to Venezuela’s top leadership, will be labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization...
By Fox News · Fox News
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday that the Cartel de los Soles, a powerful criminal network tied to Venezuela’s top leadership, will be labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The move appears to be an escalation in Washington’s stance toward the Venezuelan government and could lead to military action against the Maduro regime. In a statement, Rubio confirmed the U.S. will formally designate the cartel as an FTO later this month. The designation, which is to take effect Nov. 24, targets the criminal network allegedly led by Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro and senior members of his regime. TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’ According to the State Department , "Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary." "Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government," the statement read. "The Cartel de los Soles, in coordination with other terrorist organizations including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, is responsible for terrorist violence across our hemisphere and for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe." RUBIO PROMISES MORE STRIKES ON VENEZUELAN CARTELS: ‘WE’RE NOT GOING TO SIT BACK ANYMORE’ The announced action is being taken under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the State Department to designate foreign entities engaged in terrorist activity. The designation will become official once it’s published in the Federal Register. The Cartel de los Soles had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorism. TRUMP ADMIN TELLS CONGRESS IT DETERMINED US ENGAGED IN FORMAL 'ARMED CONFLICT' WITH 'TERRORIST' DRUG CARTELS In an accompanying post…