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U.S. State Department Issues Do-Not-Travel Advisory for Venezuela Amid Rising Cartel Threat

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  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. ory-for-venezuela-amid-rising-cartel-threat.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, November 16th 2025 at 21:26 GMT by CNN

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U.S. State Department Issues Strong Warning Over Venezuelan Cartel Activity

On November 16, 2025, CNN reported that the U.S. State Department released a new, highly‑critical travel advisory and sanctions update that highlighted the growing threat of organized crime within Venezuela. The memo, released via a press release and a follow‑up briefing video with spokesperson Nicholas D. R. Smith, is the most comprehensive U.S. warning on Venezuelan criminal activity in a decade. It draws on intelligence from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Department of Homeland Security, and it underscores a multi‑layered crisis that blends political instability, economic collapse, and an expanding drug‑trafficking nexus.

Key Points from the State Department Release

1. Cartel‑State Symbiosis
   The advisory details how drug traffickers have increasingly forged alliances with elements of the Maduro regime, exploiting weakened state institutions to move cocaine and other narcotics from the Andes into international markets. The State Department cites the “cartel‑state symbiosis” as a direct threat to U.S. interests, especially in the realm of U.S. foreign aid and counter‑terrorism efforts.

2. New Sanctions Targeting “Venezuelan Cartel Leaders”
   OFAC announced that it will impose sanctions on a list of 34 individuals and entities deemed “key facilitators” of drug trafficking operations. These include a network of Venezuelan money‑laundering intermediaries, a major logistics firm that manages the transportation of contraband through Venezuelan ports, and a high‑ranking ex‑military officer who allegedly provided security for the drug shipments. The sanctions will prohibit all U.S. persons from engaging in financial transactions with these entities and will freeze any U.S. assets they hold.

3. Travel Advisory Upgrade to “Avoid All Non‑essential Travel”
   The State Department upgraded its travel advisory for Venezuela to the highest level—“Level 4: Do Not Travel.” The advisory cautions U.S. citizens that “criminal activity is extremely pervasive,” that “law enforcement is ineffective,” and that “violent crime is rampant.” The warning is particularly dire for those wishing to visit major cities such as Caracas, Maracaibo, and Valencia, where “crime has been linked to cartel operations.”

4. Calls for Domestic Re‑examination of Aid Programs
   The briefing includes a critique of U.S. humanitarian and reconstruction programs that continue to flow into Venezuela, arguing that a significant portion of these funds may be siphoned off by cartel-linked officials. The State Department urged other countries and private donors to scrutinize their aid channels more closely to avoid inadvertently supporting the cartel network.

5. Intelligence Sharing and Bilateral Cooperation
   The release announces a renewed intelligence‑sharing agreement with Colombia’s National Police and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It also signals that the U.S. will intensify efforts to support Venezuelan civil society groups that are opposing the Maduro regime’s collusion with criminal networks.

Contextual Links within the Article

The CNN piece also follows several internal links that provide additional context:

• Link to the Full OFAC Sanctions List – A PDF titled “Venezuelan Cartel Leaders Sanctions List” lists all newly sanctioned individuals, including their names, addresses, and sanctions dates. The document also outlines the legal basis for the sanctions under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

• Link to the State Department’s Travel Advisory Page – This page offers a map of risk zones across Venezuela, indicating which provinces have the highest reported incidents of robbery, kidnapping, and cartel violence. The page also links to a hotline for U.S. citizens in Venezuela.

• Link to a UNODC Report – The UNODC report titled “Drug Trafficking in the Caribbean and Central America” provides statistical data showing a 22% year‑over‑year increase in cocaine smuggling operations that now involve Venezuelan logistics hubs. The report underscores the role of the country's strategic maritime infrastructure in facilitating drug routes to the U.S. and Europe.

• Link to a Venezuelan Court Decision – A Spanish‑language court ruling that dissolved a prominent Venezuelan money‑laundering company, which was cited in the State Department’s sanction list. The decision came after U.S. investigators discovered that the company had funneled millions of dollars in illicit funds into U.S. banks.

Implications for U.S. Policy and Venezuelan Citizens

The State Department’s warning has several potential ramifications:

• Diplomatic Isolation – The tightening of sanctions is likely to exacerbate Venezuela’s diplomatic isolation, potentially limiting its ability to negotiate trade or security agreements with neighboring countries. The advisory signals that the U.S. is prepared to further isolate Maduro’s regime if cartel collaboration persists.

• Impact on U.S. Aid – Humanitarian agencies operating in Venezuela may face new restrictions on the flow of funds, especially if those funds are deemed to be at risk of diversion to cartel networks. This could affect the supply of medical supplies, food aid, and other essential services.

• Security for U.S. Citizens – Americans traveling to or residing in Venezuela face heightened risk. The advisory explicitly warns against traveling to the border region, which is known to be a hotspot for cartel‑led smuggling. Travelers are advised to remain in secure, monitored areas and to avoid engaging with local law enforcement unless absolutely necessary.

• Encouragement of Domestic Reform – By spotlighting the criminal–state nexus, the State Department may indirectly encourage domestic reforms within Venezuela. The advisory includes a call for “greater transparency in the allocation of public resources” and “strengthened oversight of security forces” as a condition for lifting sanctions in the future.

Conclusion

The CNN article on November 16, 2025, presents a stark portrait of Venezuela’s transformation into a crime‑laden environment that challenges not only its own citizens but also international actors. By elevating the travel advisory to a “Do Not Travel” status, imposing targeted sanctions, and calling for increased intelligence cooperation, the U.S. State Department is attempting to curb the influence of drug cartels that are entwined with the Maduro regime. The advisory serves as a warning that the convergence of political instability, economic collapse, and criminal enterprise has created a volatile environment, and that the United States is ready to take concrete steps—both diplomatic and economic—to protect its interests and its people.