US attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed dozens of people
The EU could face a surge in narcotics as a result of US President Donald Trump’s “war on drugs” targeting alleged traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific, a German official has warned.
German Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck told Bild on Thursday that a tougher US crackdown on cartels in Colombia and Venezuela could exacerbate Europe’s narcotics problem.
Traffickers could shift routes by sea and land and expand online, Streeck warned. “Organized crime is already highly dynamic, especially online,” he said.
He warned of an “impending crisis” in Germany, citing falling cocaine prices, younger consumers, and a rise in drug-related deaths among people under 30.
On Friday, while presenting an annual report on drug-related crime, Streeck described an “alarming” surge in the use of hard drugs. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Germany is facing a “massive drug problem.”
Cocaine availability continues to rise across the EU, with member states reporting record seizures for the seventh consecutive year in 2023, according to the bloc’s Drugs Agency data.
Washington has expanded anti-trafficking operations, calling them part of a campaign to disrupt smuggling routes and production networks tied to the US opioid crisis. US forces have struck suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, including some Washington claims were linked to Venezuela, killing dozens. Caracas denies involvement and accuses Washington of seeking “regime change.”
Tensions rose after Trump said he had authorized covert CIA activity inside Venezuela and signaled military actions could expand from sea to land operations. President Nicolas Maduro called the statement unprecedented and “desperate,” putting the military on alert.
On Tuesday, American forces attacked a suspected smuggling vessel off of Colombia’s western coast, killing two. Bogota condemned the attacks, warning they could inflame tensions and undermine regional cooperation. President Gustavo Petro described the campaign as “an aggression against all of Latin America and the Caribbean,” saying Washington was trying to gain control of the region’s oil reserves.
