US removes Venezuela from drug list, Trump says

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Published: 2026-09-17T00:15:54.913Z • Permanent link

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Friday that the United States has removed Venezuela from the list of countries whose narcotics trafficking activities warrant a designation under the Kingpin Act, a law that targets the most egregious transnational drug traffickers. The move was made public in a statement from the Department of State, where Pompeo attributed the decision to the "tireless efforts" of US diplomats and law enforcement officials. Venezuela's removal from the list is seen as a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to the South American nation, which has been embroiled in a deepening crisis since the departure of former President Hugo Chavez in 2013. The decision is also notable for its potential implications for US companies operating in Venezuela, which may be subject to increased scrutiny and penalties for alleged ties to the country's narco-trafficking networks.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft also weighed in on the decision, stating that the US remains committed to supporting efforts to combat the global opioid crisis and that the removal of Venezuela from the list does not imply a diminished commitment to this goal. Craft noted that the US will continue to work with international partners to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, across borders. The move is also seen as a nod to the efforts of US lawmakers, who have been pushing for a more nuanced approach to Venezuela's narco-trafficking problem. Senator Marco Rubio, a prominent critic of the Maduro regime, praised the decision, stating that it reflects a more pragmatic understanding of the complexities of the issue.

Venezuela's removal from the list is also being closely watched by researchers and analysts, who see the move as a significant development in the ongoing debate over the country's role in the global narcotics trade. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had imposed sanctions on Venezuela in 2017, citing its alleged ties to narco-trafficking networks. The decision to remove the country from the list is seen as a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela, which has been marked by a series of increasingly provocative measures aimed at the Maduro regime.

The removal of Venezuela from the list of countries subject to the Kingpin Act has significant implications for US companies operating in the country. Many US-based firms, including pharmaceutical companies and logistics providers, have operations in Venezuela and may be subject to increased scrutiny and penalties for alleged ties to the country's narco-trafficking networks. The move is also likely to have a major impact on research communities, which have been studying the complex relationships between Venezuela's narco-trafficking networks and the global opioid crisis. Researchers at institutions such as the University of Miami and the University of Texas have been tracking the flow of illicit drugs across borders, including those between Venezuela and the US.

The decision also has significant implications for markets and policy environments. The removal of Venezuela from the list is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over the country's role in the global narcotics trade. The move is also likely to have a major impact on the global opioid crisis, which has been exacerbated by the rise of fentanyl production in countries such as Mexico and China. As the US looks to address the crisis, policymakers will be closely watching the implications of the decision for US companies operating in Venezuela and the global narcotics trade.

Venezuela's removal from the list of countries subject to the Kingpin Act is part of a larger pattern of shifting approaches to the global narcotics trade. The Trump administration's decision to remove Venezuela from the list reflects a more pragmatic understanding of the complexities of the issue, which has been marked by a series of increasingly provocative measures aimed at the Maduro regime. The move is also seen as a nod to the efforts of US lawmakers, who have been pushing for a more nuanced approach to Venezuela's narco-trafficking problem.