WASHINGTON, Aug 21, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump is deploying 
three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug 
trafficking, a source familiar with the move said Wednesday.

The deployment comes as the Trump administration steps up pressure on 
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, doubling its bounty to $50 million earlier 
this month on drug charges against the leftist strongman.

The three Aegis-class guided missile destroyers are heading to the waters off 
Venezuela, the US source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

US media reported that Washington was also planning to send 4,000 Marines to 
the region.

Washington, which does not recognize Maduro's past two election victories, 
accuses him of leading the Cartel de los Soles ("Cartel of the Suns") cocaine 
trafficking gang.

The Treasury Department gave the group a special terrorist designation last 
month, accusing it of supporting the Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa drug cartels, 
which were labeled foreign terrorist organizations earlier this year.

The White House said on Tuesday that Trump would use "every element" to stop 
drug trafficking, when asked about the possibility of US boots on the ground 
in Venezuela.

"President Trump has been very clear and consistent, he's prepared to use 
every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country 
and to bring those responsible to justice," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 
said.

Leavitt described the Venezuelan government as a "narco-terror cartel."

"And Maduro, it is the view of this administration, is not a legitimate 
president, he is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the 
United States for trafficking drugs into this country," she added.

Maduro said on Monday that he would be deploying 4.5 million militia members 
across Venezuela in response to US "threats."