JD Vance pushes back against claims that Venezuela isn’t involved in dr*gs

Vice President JD Vance said Venezuela remains key to the d*ug trade, noting c*caine, not just f*ntanyl, drives profits for major Latin American cartels
PUBLISHED JAN 5, 2026
JD Vance said Mexico remains the main f*ntanyl transit route, explaining President Donald Trump closed the border in response to narcotics flowing north (Caylo Seals/Getty Imag
JD Vance said Mexico remains the main f*ntanyl transit route, explaining President Donald Trump closed the border in response to narcotics flowing north (Caylo Seals/Getty Imag

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance pushed back against claims that Venezuela is not involved in the dr*g trade.

Responding to the criticism, Vance explained on social media that while many people focus only on fe*tanyl, Venezuela remains a major source of c*caine, which acts as the main “profit center for all of the major Latin America cartels."



VP Vance hits back at claims minimizing Venezuela’s d*ug trafficking role

In a detailed post on X on Sunday, January 4, Vice President JD Vance addressed what he described as a misconception that Venezuela is irrelevant to the illicit d**g trade simply because most f*ntanyl originates elsewhere.

He explained that focusing on a single substance ignores how criminal networks actually generate revenue.

Vance stated, “You see a lot of claims that Venezuela has nothing to do with d*ugs because most of the f*ntanyl comes from elsewhere. I want to address this: First off, f*ntanyl isn't the only d*ug in the world and there is still f*ntanyl coming from Venezuela or at least there was.”

He noted that c*caine remains the primary financial backbone for these organizations, adding, “Second, c*caine, which is the main d*ug trafficked out of Venezuela, is a profit center for all of the Latin America cartels. If you cut out the money from c*caine or even reduce it you substantially weaken the cartels overall. Also, it is bad too!"

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C), speaks alongside President Donald Trump as Trump holds a dinner with leaders of Central Asian countries in the East Room of the White House on November 6, 2025, in Washington, DC. President Trump hosted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, and President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance, speaks alongside President Donald Trump as Trump holds a dinner with leaders of Central Asian countries in the East Room of the White House on November 6, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Vance addresses Mexico’s role in south border closure

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that Mexico remains the primary transit point for fe*tanyl while linking the administration’s broader border security measures to the threat posed by illicit narcotics.

He said the Trump administration’s early actions were a direct response to the volume of na***tics flowing from the south.

Vance highlighted this by writing, “Third, yes, a lot of fe*tanyl is coming out of Mexico. That continues to be a focus of our policy in Mexico and is a reason why President Trump shut the border on day one.” 

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stands in the Cross Hall before U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak with Senate Republicans at a breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House on November 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is speaking with Republican senators as the U.S. government shutdown has reached day 36. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance stands in the Cross Hall before President Donald Trump arrives to speak with Senate Republicans at a breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House on November 5, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

JD Vance defends Trump’s Venezuela action, cites oil expropriation

Vice President JD Vance also addressed criticism related to oil in his post on X, pointing to Venezuela’s expropriation of American oil property roughly two decades ago.

Vance stated, “Fourth, I see a lot of criticism about oil. About 20 years ago, Venezuela expropriated American oil property and until recently used that stolen property to get rich and fund their nar*****rorist activities.”

Addressing concerns about the use of military force, he questioned whether the United States should “allow a communist to steal our stuff in our hemisphere and do nothing?” He emphasized that “Great powers don't act like that. The United States, thanks to President Donald Trump's leadership, is a great power again.”

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