The Cocaine Highway's Real Toll
THE ACTORS: Who benefits from the 'narco-state' narrative? The primary actors in this narrative are diverse but coalesce around a common goal: isolating Venezuela. The Telegraph's report, while appearing to focus on local drug violence, implicitly amplifies accusations emanating from US-aligned entities. Key among these are the US State Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
which have historically characterized Venezuela as a 'narco-state.' Figures like former Colombian President Iván Duque have also been prominent in this chorus, despite Colombia's own deeply entrenched history with drug production and paramilitary links (e.g., the 2000 'Plan Colombia' era). THE FUNDING: Who finances the accusations and what are their investments? While the article focuses on
street-level drug money, the larger financial currents are crucial. US government agencies, particularly through organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) (established 1983), have provided millions in funding to Venezuelan opposition groups and NGOs, often under the guise of 'democracy promotion.' According to NED's own records, they funneled over $3 million to Venezuelan
organizations in 2022 alone. This money directly supports narratives that paint the Venezuelan government as illegitimate and complicit in illicit activities. Companies with vested interests in Venezuelan oil, gas, and mineral resources—assets nationalized by Hugo Chávez, which a US-friendly regime would likely re-privatize—also stand to gain significantly. THE INCENTIVES: Why weaponize drug