Meeting the US's Allies in Drug Trafficking: A Timeline of Involvement with Narcotics

As the United States increases military actions against Venezuelan vessels and threatens a potential ground operation to counter alleged drug networks, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been pardoned by President Donald Trump and released from a 45-year US prison term for drug and weapons offenses.

Since September, US strikes on at least 21 Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have reportedly resulted in over 80 fatalities. While the Trump administration claims these vessels were moving drugs toward the US, no public evidence has been provided to substantiate these allegations.

Historically, the US has a long record of utilizing drug trade networks to advance foreign policy interests, starting as far back as the 19th-century Opium Wars with China.

Venezuela and the Cocaine Trade

Despite the US focus on Venezuela, global cocaine production reached a record 3,708 tonnes in 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Most cocaine originates from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, with primary US-bound routes passing through Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Venezuela remains a minor transit point. The DEA reports that 84% of cocaine seized in the US comes from Colombia, without mentioning Venezuela as a significant source.

Trumps Controversial Pardon

On November 28, Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, a member of Hondurass National Party, who had been extradited to the US in 2022 and convicted in 2024 for conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of machineguns. Hernandez was released from USP Hazelton in West Virginia. Trump defended the pardon, claiming Hernandez faced harsh and unfair treatment. Critics argue this action reveals a deeper political agenda targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who the US accuses of drug cartel ties. The US recently increased the reward for information leading to Maduros arrest to $50 million.

Historical US Involvement in Drug Trafficking

Americas engagement with narcotics has spanned nearly two centuries, often intertwining with foreign policy goals:

19th Century: Opium in China

Western powers, including the US, smuggled opium into China to balance trade deficits caused by high Western demand for Chinese goods like tea, porcelain, and silk. The First Opium War began in 1839 after Chinese authorities tried to halt the trade. Although the US did not fight militarily, American merchants participated in opium trade. The 1844 Treaty of Wanghia nominally prohibited opium but allowed US trade expansion. The Second Opium War (18561860) further legalized opium under British and French pressure, with American support.

1960s1970s: Laos During the Vietnam War

The CIA operated covertly in Laos, training Hmong militias to fight communist forces. Hmong communities cultivated opium as a cash crop, and operations allegedly included moving opium via Air America to fund militias. Direct CIA involvement in trafficking has never been officially confirmed.

19791989: Afghanistan and the Mujahideen

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan coincided with extensive opium cultivation in rebel-held regions. Historians claim the CIA-backed mujahideen financed their campaigns through the opium trade, with trafficking routes passing through Pakistan and Iran. UNODC reported in 2001 that Afghanistan produced 79% of global illicit opium in 1999. CIA involvement in supporting opium cultivation remains officially unacknowledged.

1980s: Latin America and the Contras

The CIA supported the Contras in Nicaragua against the left-wing Sandinista government. Allegedly, affiliated groups smuggled cocaine into the US, funding the Contras operations. Journalist Gary Webb documented these connections in his book "Dark Alliance," asserting CIA awareness of the drug trade.

1970s1980s: Manuel Noriega in Panama

Noriega, a long-time CIA informant, reportedly facilitated cocaine shipments for Colombian cartels while sharing intelligence with the US. He was indicted in 1988 on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

Late 1980s1990s: Haiti

During political instability, Haitian officials linked to the CIA allegedly helped Colombian cartels move cocaine into the US via Haiti.

US Military and Drug Allegations

US service members have faced accusations of drug trafficking. Recent examples include arrests of 17 USFK personnel in South Korea in 2023 and incidents involving soldiers in Colombia in 2005. Additionally, investigative reports detail drug-related crimes among Special Forces at Fort Bragg over the past decade.

Author: Olivia Parker