The United States Southern Command announced this Friday the creation of a new Joint Task Force (FTC) with the aim of increasing the country’s capabilities when it comes to combating drug trafficking within the framework of the US offensive against alleged vessels transporting drugs in the Caribbean that has led to an escalation of tension with Venezuela, who is accused of being behind drug trafficking.
“By order of the President, the War Department is establishing a new Joint Counternarcotics Task Force in the Southern Command area of responsibility to crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe. The message is clear: if they traffic drugs to our shores, we will stop them in their tracks,” said US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
This detachment aims to increase the US Army’s ability to “detect, dismantle and dismantle illicit trafficking networks more quickly and thoroughly, together with our US and partner nation counterparts,” in the words of Southern Command Admiral Alvin Holsey.
The FTC officers They will carry out surveillance and identify patterns in drug trafficking and will have greater training so that the response to crime is more effective, something that is also intended to be achieved by improving coordination between federal, state and even forces from other countries.
“This is primarily a maritime effort, and our team will leverage maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, precision interdictions and intelligence sharing to combat illicit trafficking, uphold the rule of law and ultimately better protect vulnerable communities here at home,” said a future FTC commander.
