Senate Leader Thune: Trump’s Action Against Maduro Ends Deadly Drug Cartel Regime

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced that Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro was taken into custody overnight by a valid Department of Justice warrant.

In a statement, Thune described President Donald Trump’s announcement of Maduro’s capture as ending “a dangerous and deadly regime.” He wrote: “For years, Nicolas Maduro, the cartel he leads, and other cartels in Latin America have trafficked drugs into the United States, which have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.”

Thune affirmed his full support for Trump’s order to capture Maduro. “President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro through the execution of a valid Department of Justice warrant is an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States,” Thune said.

The South Dakota senator credited the special operations forces for protecting U.S. interests during the operation. “I am grateful for the brave men and women of our armed forces who carried out this necessary action,” Thune added.

Thune stated that he is consulting with other Senate leaders to prepare government actions supporting Trump’s decision against Maduro. “I spoke to Secretary Marco Rubio early this morning, and I look forward to receiving further briefings from the administration on this operation as part of its comprehensive counternarcotics strategy when the Senate returns to Washington next week,” Thune said.

President Trump confirmed in a briefing that the U.S. would assist in managing Venezuela’s affairs. Trump characterized Maduro as responsible for hundreds of thousands of American deaths by smuggling illicit drugs through his cartel operations.