Congress cracks down on narcotrafficking by infamous Venezuelan cartel

The House of Representatives passed two bills targeting drug trafficking by South American cartels, including the infamous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), on Wednesday.

One bill, sponsored by Republican Mississippi Rep. Michael Guest, increases the capacity of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to collaborate with foreign governments in combating drug and human trafficking. The other piece of legislation, sponsored by Republican North Carolina Rep. Brad Knott, targets TdA and orders a comprehensive Department of Homeland Security (DHS) analysis of the cartel’s activity within 180 days and a strategic plan within one year of the analysis.

Both bills passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote on Wednesday evening.

Knott argued on Wednesday that his bill investigating TdA is necessary given the cartel’s success in cultivating networks in the U.S. and criminal threats posed by the group, and serves to “dismantle and remove” the cartel from the United States.

Guest’s bill increases the ability of CBP Air and Marine Operations (AMO) personnel to conduct joint operations with foreign countries, including the monitoring, locating, tracking, and deterrence of illegal drugs, victims of human trafficking, and terrorist threats to the United States, among other priorities.

Guest noted AMO interdiction statistics from fiscal year 2024, including “48,609 apprehensions of illegal aliens, as well as the seizure or disruption of 244,781 pounds of cocaine, 2235 pounds of fentanyl, 3061 pounds of methamphetamine, and the seizure of 1499 weapons.”

“I believe that this legislation, going hand in hand with the previous legislation that this body just took up and just passed, that it is an important step as we continue to remain vigilant, as we continue to do what the American people elected us to do,” Guest said on the House floor Wednesday. “They elected us to keep them safe. They elected us to make sure that the communities in which they live, that those communities are great places to live, worship, and to raise a family.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has conducted at least 21 strikes on alleged narco-trafficking boats in the Caribbean since Sept. 2, killing 83 aboard the vessels. Congress has twice sought oversight of the operations, both times failing to win the required votes to limit military strikes in South America.

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