Cartel of the Suns News
GameChangers 2019: As Venezuela Sinks, Maduro’s Criminal Ties Keep Him Afloat
Venezuela remained mired in crisis throughout 2019, yet Nicolás Maduro actually consolidated his regime. How did he do...
Cartel of the Suns Profile
Cartel of the Suns
The term "Cartel of the Suns" (Cartel de los Soles) is used to describe shadowy groups inside Venezuela's military that traffic cocaine. It is in some ways a misleading term, as it creates the impression that there is a hierarchical group, made up primarily of military officials, that sets the price of cocaine inside the country. There are cells within the main branches of the military -- the...
More Cartel of the Suns News
Analysis /
Venezuela Intelligence Chief Exposes Organized Crime Links in Maduro Govt
For the second time in six months, a former head of Venezuela’s military intelligence service has made major revelations about the links between President...
Analysis /
Failed Venezuela Uprising Benefits Armed and Criminal Groups
Venezuela's social conflict and violence may be even more complicated a week after the failed military uprising led by Juan Guaidó. This continued descent into...
Analysis /
US Piles on the Pressure Against Venezuela’s El Aissami
The United States has charged Tareck El Aissami, one of the most powerful men in Venezuela, and five of his collaborators for violating sanctions imposed in 2017...
Analysis /
The Armed Groups Propping Up Venezuela’s Government
Reports from Venezuela are shocking the world with images of “colectivos,” police and military using excessive force -- even opening fire -- on unarmed...
Analysis /
Op-Ed: Venezuela – Latin America’s Iraq?
Is it just me or does Nicolas Maduro look a lot like Saddam Hussein? After US intervention in Iraq, we saw a nation that descended into civil war, mass displacement...
Analysis /
Key Criminal Revelations From Former Venezuela Intelligence Chief
The former head of Venezuela’s military intelligence service has revealed some key details that confirm longstanding links between several officials in the regime...
Analysis /
Venezuela Criminal Structures Bolster Maduro in Second Term
The swearing in of Nicolás Maduro for a second presidential term demonstrates just how deeply entrenched organized crime structures are in Venezuela’s...
Analysis /
Venezuela, the New Regional Crime Hub
Venezuela has become a regional crime hub, with profound consequences for Latin America and beyond. And with another Nicolás Maduro term, the roots of organized...
Drug Trafficking Within the Venezuelan Regime: The ‘Cartel of the Suns’
In Latin America, criminal entrepreneurs in the form of cartels, have traditionally run drug trafficking. In Venezuela, it is managed from within government,...