In a significant military operation, Venezuela’s armed forces announced on Wednesday the destruction of two Colombian narcotrafficking camps located within its borders. The operation, led by General Domingo Hernandez Larez, head of the armed forces’ strategic command, targeted logistical bases used by groups referred to as ‘Tancol’—a term coined by Caracas to describe ‘armed narcotrafficking terrorists of Colombia.’ The raids uncovered pamphlets linked to the Colombian ELN guerrilla group, alongside seized ammunition, all-terrain vehicles, tactical vests, and fuel. The ELN, a prominent insurgency group, controls territories near the Venezuelan border, which are critical hubs for coca production and trafficking routes to the Caribbean coast, where Colombian cocaine is transported globally. This operation coincides with a substantial US military deployment in the Caribbean, ostensibly aimed at combating drug trafficking. However, Venezuelan authorities suspect the US move is a pretext for potential military action against President Nicolas Maduro, whom the Trump administration has accused of being a drug lord, offering a $50 million reward for his capture. Maduro has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that Venezuela is merely a transit route for Colombian cocaine, with no local drug cultivation. Earlier this month, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino also reported the dismantling of ELN and former FARC guerrilla camps, underscoring Caracas’ efforts to demonstrate its commitment to combating narcoterrorism.