Head of State Nicolás Maduro emphasized that the country has managed to remain free of drugs, narcotics processing, and illicit substances, thanks to the work of the National Anti-Drug Superintendency and other security agencies. This achievement has been supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
During an event for the Peace Quadrants Plan, Maduro recalled that, since Commander Hugo Chávez expelled the DEA, Venezuela has strengthened the cleanup of its territory with ongoing anti-drug operations. He stated that the country is a «world champion in the fight against drug trafficking and mafias linked to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru,» highlighting the eradication of illicit crops over the past 15 years.
Furthermore, the president noted that 87% of the drugs produced in Colombia are transported across the Pacific to the US and Europe, while only 5% attempt to enter through Venezuela. He instructed security forces to maintain vigilance to prevent the transit of narcotics. He also accused Colombian drug trafficking and criminal groups of financing campaigns against the Venezuelan government.
President Maduro called on his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security, diplomacy, and politics to combat crime along the border. He criticized opposition figures and former President Álvaro Uribe, linking them to drug trafficking.