If you want to understand why Venezuela is mired in one of the worst crises in its history, you have to look beyond formal politics. While the official narrative speaks of sovereignty and revolution, behind the scenes a criminal structure has consolidated: the Cartel of the Suns , a drug trafficking and corruption network that grew under Hugo Chávez and became an empire under Nicolás Maduro .
You, as a reader, have the right to know how this criminal organization infiltrated the Venezuelan state, how it operates internationally, and why the regime today depends on it for sustenance.
Origin of the Cartel of the Suns in Venezuela
The Cartel of the Suns was born in the 1990s, when Venezuelan soldiers began using sun insignia on their uniforms, a symbol that later identified officers involved in smuggling and drug trafficking.
Hugo Chávez 's rise to power in 1999, this network was strengthened. This was no coincidence: Chávez allowed the Armed Forces to control airports, seaports, and strategic routes. This facilitated the transportation of cocaine from Colombia to the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe.
When Maduro took office after Chávez's death, that structure was already in place. What he did was expand it, consolidating a direct alliance between political power and drug trafficking .
Nicolás Maduro: the dictator turned kingpin
These aren't rumors. U.S. court documents, reports from the NGO InsightCrime , and accusations from former Chavista officials confirm that Nicolás Maduro has become the political leader of the Cartel of the Suns .
Under his command, the cartel transformed from an isolated military network into a multinational drug trafficking organization . Drugs leaving Venezuela go not only to the Caribbean: today they are distributed throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, with connections to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, the Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, and the FARC in Colombia.
The criminal structure of the Cartel of the Suns
You have to imagine the cartel as a parallel state within Venezuela. We're not talking about a marginal group, but rather a network that involves:
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High-ranking military officers such as Vladimir Padrino López, Minister of Defense.
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Politicians and figures of Chavismo such as Diosdado Cabello and Cilia Flores.
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Chavista intelligence agencies , which protect routes and eliminate opponents.
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Corrupt businessmen and judges who launder money and guarantee impunity.
This criminal backbone is sustained by the territorial control the regime obtains through fraudulent elections and repression of opponents.
International connections of the Cartel of the Suns
One of the most dangerous aspects is how this network crossed borders . The Cartel of the Suns has ties to:
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The FARC and the ELN in Colombia, with whom it shares cocaine routes.
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The Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, which receives shipments from Venezuela.
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El Tren de Aragua , a Venezuelan band that expanded throughout South America.
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Criminal groups in Africa and the Middle East , which use Venezuelan ports as a bridge.
These links gave the cartel a global dimension, to the point that the United States considered it a threat to national security .
United States vs. Nicolás Maduro
On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Cartel of the Suns as a "Global Terrorist Organization ." This label is no small feat: it means that any financial or logistical support for the group will be pursued with the same force as organizations like al-Qaeda.
A few days later, Washington announced an unprecedented measure: a $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. It's the highest amount in U.S. history, even higher than the amount offered for Osama Bin Laden.
Additionally, assets linked to Maduro worth $700 million were seized, including properties in Florida, mansions in the Dominican Republic, luxury horses, and private planes.
How Chavismo turned Venezuela into a narco-state
You're probably wondering: How is it possible that an entire country is tied to a cartel? The answer lies in Chavismo's absolute control of the state .
Maduro uses the institutions, the Armed Forces, and the judicial system to ensure the cartel's continued operation. Fraudulent elections are not only a democratic farce, but also a mechanism to control key drug trafficking territories .
The result: Venezuela ceased to be just a country in crisis and became considered a narco-state .
The future of the Cartel of the Suns
The question remains whether this structure can survive a possible Maduro overthrow. Many analysts believe the cartel is so intertwined with the regime that its fate is inseparable.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan society continues to pay the price: poverty, repression, and the mass exile of millions fleeing a country ruled by criminals.
