The sectoral vice president of Politics, Citizen Security and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, reported that in the first days of 2026 a total of 7,148 kilograms of drugs have been seized, the most relevant blow being the seizure of 6,850.41 kilos in an operation carried out on January 5 in the Orinoco River basin, Bolívar state.
The official highlighted that this achievement is the result of intelligence work and the popular-military-police fusion to combat the drug trafficking industry. The breakdown of the shipment consisted of 14,199 packages of marijuana (6,758.66 kg) and 81 packages of cocaine (91.75 kg).
The minister indicated that this shipment represents one of the biggest blows to the logistics networks that try to use Venezuelan waterways for drug trafficking.
Added to this seizure are two operations carried out in the west of the country. Specifically in Catatumbo, in Binational Peace Zone number 1. “Three people were detained there with 75 packages, containing 39 kilos with 450 grams of marijuana.”
In another operation, in the state of Zulia, three other people were captured with more than 50 wrappers and a weight of 50 kg of marijuana. “All this adds up,” said Minister Cabello.
Almost 70 tons seized in 2025
“Last year we achieved a record seizure, the largest seizure after breaking with the DEA here in Venezuela almost 70 tons of drugs in different operations the following year,” he said during a press conference.
He revealed that one of the operational milestones of 2025 was the destruction of the logistics corridors in Lake Maracaibo. The authorities managed to neutralize the route that was intended to move substances from the Colombian Catatumbo to the Caribbean.
As a result of these procedures, citizens linked to these networks were arrested, including former police, military and judicial system officials who facilitated the transit of narcotics.
Cabello concluded that the success of the operations lies in the coordination of the security chiefs and the informational contribution of the people organized to guarantee national peace.
