How did Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar turn Venezuela into 'cocaine heaven'?

New Delhi: Struggling with high rates of poverty and crime despite its massive oil wealth, Venezuela is known as a ‘cocaine haven’. Corruption within the government, military, and at the borders has given drug traffickers free rein. 

The US has blamed Venezuela for supplying drugs to the country and has used this reason to justify the military on Caracas and the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Us President Donald Trump has accused Maduro of narco-terrorism and had applied pressure on Venezuela for several months before ordering the operation, which is similar to the capture of General Manuel Noriega in Panama on January 3, 1990.

What is Pablo Escobar's connection to Venezuela?

The infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar (1949-1993) did not have a direct personal connection to Venezuela, but Venezuela played a role in the cocaine trafficking routes of his Medellín Cartel. Escobar was known as the "King of Cocaine," controlling 80% of the world's cocaine supply in the 1980s.

What was Escobar's connection to Venezuela?

Escobar's Medellín Cartel primarily operated from Colombia. Cocaine originated from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, and the main routes for transporting it to the US were through Florida, California, and the Caribbean islands.

Venezuela was identified as a transit point because the Colombia-Venezuela border is covered in dense jungle, making smuggling easy.

During the Escobar era, Venezuela hadn't yet become a major transit point, but some labs were located near the border. Escobar's brother Roberto's book mentions a modern lab on a farm near the Venezuelan border, employing 200 people. The Medellín Cartel used routes through Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and other countries.

Escobar's dream was for the drug cartel to control the government. He became a member of parliament in Colombia, but ultimately failed in his political ambitions. Many experts say that in Venezuela, the Cartel of the Suns (a network of army generals) has fulfilled Escobar's dream. The US has identified Maduro as its head.

What were the cocaine trafficking routes during the Escobar era?

Main route: From Colombia to the US via the Caribbean by plane or boat.
Bahamas: Escobar bought Norman's Cay island, where he built an airstrip and warehouses.
Venezuela's role: Smuggling took place across the border. Later (during the Chavez-Maduro era), Venezuela became a major hub.
After Escobar's death (1993), the cocaine trade changed. Now Mexican cartels (Sinaloa) and Venezuelan routes are used more frequently.

Has Escobar's dream been fulfilled in Venezuela?

Many leaders in the US and the European Parliament say that Maduro has achieved Escobar's dream – a fusion of drug cartels and the government. Escobar wanted to infiltrate politics in Colombia but failed. In Venezuela, the Cartel of the Suns is linked to government officials who control the army and the government.

In 2025, the US declared it a terrorist organization. A $50 million reward was offered for Maduro's capture. Escobar's former sicario (like Popeye) also identified Maduro as the big boss of the cartel. 30 years after Escobar's death, the cocaine trade is still flourishing. Venezuela has now become the hub that Escobar wanted to create in Colombia.

The US attacks (2026) are ostensibly aimed at stopping drug trafficking, but many consider them a regime change operation. Escobar's story shows how persistent the drug trade is – if one leader dies, another takes their place.

How did Venezuela become a narco-state? 

Venezuela's drug connection strengthened from the 1990s onwards, but it reached its peak under the rule of Nicolás Maduro (2013 to present). Political instability, economic crisis, and corruption have turned the country into a haven for drug traffickers. Corruption was a major issue in the protests of 2014 and 2017.

According to a UN report, Venezuela earns revenue from oil, but corruption has made it a central hub for drug trafficking routes. The situation worsened in 2025-2026. The US stated that the Maduro government operates a network called the "Cartel of the Suns," which traffics cocaine.

In September 2025, the US launched attacks on drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, sinking several vessels. In December 2025, the US informed the UN that it would cut off resources to Maduro and his cartel.

How big is the drug trade?

Venezuela is a transit point for the drug trade. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Colombia cultivates 300,000 hectares of coca crops, producing 3,000 metric tons of cocaine annually. The global cocaine market is valued at over $100 billion. 20-30% of this cocaine passes through Venezuela.

The Cartel of the Suns earned billions of dollars in 2025. The US estimates that the cocaine reaching the US from Venezuela is worth $10-20 billion annually. Corruption allows the cartels to profit from oil and currency controls, which have devastated the country's economy.