WILLEMSTAD - The aggressive anti-drug campaign launched by U.S. President Donald Trump in the Caribbean has not reduced the flow of narcotics into the United States, according to Jeremy McDermott, director of the regional think tank Insight Crime. McDermott made the remarks during an interview with the Dutch current affairs program Nieuwsuur.
Trump has repeatedly ordered the destruction of small Venezuelan vessels, claiming they were loaded with drugs bound for the United States. Several people have been killed in these operations, which Washington says are aimed at dismantling smuggling networks in the region.
Drug Routes Simply Shifted
McDermott doubts the campaign will have a lasting impact. “The direct effect is that no more fast boats are leaving Venezuela,” he said. “But does that really mean fewer drugs are entering the United States? I’m not sure. What we’re seeing instead is that the routes are shifting — smugglers are now moving through southern Venezuela, toward the east coast, or rerouting via Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil.”
Dutch Navy Sees No Drop in Smuggling
Commodore Walter Hansen, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Caribbean, confirms that there has been no noticeable decrease in drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea since Trump’s operations began. Hansen oversees a Dutch naval contingent that works closely with U.S. vessels in the fight against regional drug cartels.
“I don’t know what data the U.S. president is using,” Hansen said. “But from what I’ve personally observed in the area under my command, I haven’t seen any significant change. The Americans have only been running this operation for about a month, and it’s far too soon to draw firm conclusions.” His remarks directly contradict Trump’s claim that the U.S. has “completely halted the overseas drug supply.”
Positive Effect for Dutch Caribbean Islands
Despite doubts about its success, McDermott noted that the campaign has had a temporary deterrent effect along parts of Venezuela’s northern coast — a development that could benefit the Dutch Caribbean islands.
“Our contacts in Venezuela say that traffickers along the coast are now saying, ‘Stop — suspend all smuggling operations for now,’” McDermott explained. “In that sense, the current U.S. crackdown might actually bring some short-term relief for the region.”
