USA just sunk a drug boat from Venezuela

[RichardHurt]

The Cartels aren't making their drug money off of the good people of lovely little Trinidad.
That shipment was intended to end up being smuggled into the US mainland.
To argue otherwise is just foolish.

To argue that the boat being a target because of it doing something bad was the sole intention is even more foolish.

[IAMTAT]

To argue that the boat being a target because of it doing something bad was the sole intention is even more foolish.

What's foolish about killing a bunch drug-trafficking terrorists running a boatload of deadly drugs into your country to kill your children?

That's ALL the reason ANYONE needs to waste the murderous a-holes.

[CriticalStinker]

The Cartels aren't making their drug money off of the good people of lovely little Trinidad.
That shipment was intended to end up being smuggled into the US mainland.
To argue otherwise is just foolish.

And yet we're allies with Columbia, with several bases there. >80% of coke is produced there. 

But the most deadly drug, fentanyl comes from the precursors originating in China. Yet we've had more aggressive rhetoric about fentanyl towards Canada.

So again, I question the motives of sending a naval fleet to a country that does very little, while striking a speed boat. 

After all the wars in the last few decades, I think that's fair. Especially since this country does very little with drugs, but has the most oil on earth.

[IAMTAT]

And yet we're allies with Columbia, with several bases there. >80% of coke is produced there. 

President Maduro is an actual Cartel kingpin.
President Petro, is not.

[CriticalStinker]

President Maduro is an actual Cartel kingpin.
President Petro, is not.

How many savage dictators are there on earth that we have never laid a finger on?

But the one with the oil is a kingpin we absolutely have to deal with.

Just like Noriega. Again, our track record makes me question with good reason.

Edit: not to mention two of our admins ordered our troops to protect the poppy field of the number one opiate producer in the last 20 years.

[xuenchen]

Rubio's first comment was that the boat was bound for Trinidad. Then they said that a speed boat was going to come to the US, even though that's probably outside of it's range.

Some people have noted it could have had extra fuel on board, but that would beg the question why they would have 12 people, extra fuel, just to transport drugs... That would make it quite the light trip.

Again, I don't doubt that they were up to something nefarious, seeing as Venezuela is so crippled with inflation that most people can't eat. So if you have a speed boat, you have to have corrupt or illegal money.

What percentage of any drug does Venezuela produce and or traffic? I haven't found any source that puts them over 5%. 

So why the sudden push to put a naval fleet next to them if they aren't even a drop in the bucket, and a first strike is against a speed boat you could find at a lake? To me, it's fishy. I don't typically trust the government with stuff like this. I wouldn't have believed it if it was Bush, Obama, Biden or Trump. Again, we've been looking to topple Venezuela for decades, bipartisan. 

How many pharmaceutical executives went to prison for claiming oxytocin wasn't addictive while they made millions? How many politicians got investigated after protecting poppy fields in Afghanistan? Because opiate addiction wasn't the problem it was until the Afghan war, where they were the number one producer of opium on the planet. It's moral and logical holes like this that make me question going after a country that is under 5% in any drug production or trafficking but also has the most oil on earth. It's not because of the administration in power, but our track record as a whole.

Perfect! Rubio's comment about "bound for Trinidad" is probably more bait to draw a bait lawsuit all while The U.S. uses other methods. These guys are brilliant.  Democrats are using "it's illegal" as their offence PR against Trump 

[xuenchen]

To argue that the boat being a target because of it doing something bad was the sole intention is even more foolish.

You're miles away from the actual strategy tactics. 
You need to drag out of The Dark Ages 

[CriticalStinker]

Perfect! Rubio's comment about "bound for Trinidad" is probably more bait to draw a bait lawsuit all while The U.S. uses other methods. These guys are brilliant.  [Image: https://denyignorance.com//images/addsmi...gjoint.gif] Democrats are using "it's illegal" as their offence PR against Trump 

There's not going to be a lawsuit over this strike. Every admin since 9/11 has done strikes like this.

[putnam6]

And yet we're allies with Columbia, with several bases there. >80% of coke is produced there. 

But the most deadly drug, fentanyl comes from the precursors originating in China. Yet we've had more aggressive rhetoric about fentanyl towards Canada.

So again, I question the motives of sending a naval fleet to a country that does very little, while striking a speed boat. 

After all the wars in the last few decades, I think that's fair. Especially since this country does very little with drugs, but has the most oil on earth.

Each situation requires different tactics, intelligence and agents no logical reason to conclude, smuggling from China and smuggling from Venezuela and smuggling from Colombia are remotely similar. We have a semi-working relationship with Colombia for Drug interdiction YES or NO we have no such relationship with Maduro or Xi


#1 The US Navy isn't going to light up a speedboat in international waters without actionable intelligence. You're making it sound as if Trump's hovering over a  maritime radar is picking blips on the screen and directing the Navy to eliminate them

#2 So let's target boats in the South China Sea and start WWIII

#3 This is sending a message to them, Maduro, and anybody else, don't screw around in this hemisphere. There's no telling how much shit from China came across our porous borders. Pretty sure all the fentanyl doesn't arrive directly from China to the US and it doesnt....

see below...
 

How is fentanyl smuggled into the US from China and why is it so difficult to stop?
Fentanyl smuggling from China to the United States primarily involves the shipment of precursor chemicals and, to a lesser extent, finished fentanyl products, through a complex and adaptive global supply chain. Below is an overview of the methods used and the challenges in stopping this illicit trade:Methods of Fentanyl Smuggling from China to the US

1. Precursor Chemical Shipments:
   • Production in China: Chinese chemical companies produce precursor chemicals, which are the building blocks for synthesizing fentanyl. These chemicals often have legitimate industrial uses, making them legal to produce and export in many cases.
     
     
   • Export to Mexico: Since China tightened regulations on finished fentanyl in 2019, traffickers have shifted to exporting precursors to Mexico, where cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) synthesize them into fentanyl. These chemicals are shipped via air, sea, or land, often through commercial cargo or mail systems.
     
     
   • Deceptive Practices: Chinese firms frequently mislabel shipments, disguising precursors as innocuous items like cosmetics, electronics, or furniture parts. They may also use re-shippers to obscure the origin of the packages, routing them through third countries.
     
     
2. Direct Shipment of Finished Fentanyl:
   • Although less common since China's 2019 regulations, small quantities of finished fentanyl (often less than one kilogram) are still smuggled directly from China to the US via international mail or express consignment services. These shipments are typically high-purity (over 90%) and sent in small packages to evade detection.
     
     
3. Exploitation of US Trade Laws:
   • A 2016 US trade law loosened regulations under the "de minimis" rule, allowing parcels valued up to $800 to enter the US duty-free with minimal paperwork and inspections. This has facilitated the influx of small packages containing fentanyl precursors or finished products, as traffickers exploit the surge in e-commerce shipments from China.
     
     
4. Transshipment Through the US:
   • The US has become a transshipment hub for precursors destined for Mexico. Chemicals arrive in US ports (e.g., Los Angeles), are transported to border cities like Tucson, and then smuggled into Mexico for fentanyl production. This circuitous route takes advantage of lax inspection protocols for international trade.
     
     
5. Use of Ports of Entry:
   • Most fentanyl seizures occur at legal ports of entry, where the drug or its precursors are hidden in passenger vehicles, commercial cargo trucks, or mail. About 80% of fentanyl is seized in the southwest border region, often concealed in vehicles or mixed with other goods.
     
     

Why It’s Difficult to Stop

1. Volume of Trade:
   • The sheer volume of international mail and e-commerce packages entering the US—hundreds of millions annually—makes it impossible to inspect every shipment. Authorities face a "needle in a haystack" challenge, as smuggling small quantities of fentanyl or precursors is relatively easy to conceal.
     
     
2. Ease of Production and Adaptation:
   • Fentanyl is cheap and easy to produce, requiring only small amounts of precursor chemicals to create large quantities of the drug. When certain precursors are banned, traffickers quickly switch to unscheduled alternatives, outpacing regulatory efforts.
     
     
3. Lax Regulation in China:
   • Despite China’s 2019 scheduling of fentanyl and some precursors, enforcement is weak, and new chemicals are developed to circumvent bans. Chinese firms often operate openly, advertising precursors online, and the government’s limited cooperation hinders international efforts.
     
     
4. Global Supply Chain Complexity:
   • The fentanyl supply chain spans multiple countries and involves sophisticated networks of chemical manufacturers, cartels, and intermediaries. Disrupting one segment (e.g., direct shipments from China) shifts trafficking to alternative routes, such as through Mexico.
     
     
5. De Minimis Loophole:
   • The 2016 US trade law’s de minimis provision allows low-value shipments to bypass rigorous customs checks, enabling traffickers to flood the US with small, hard-to-detect packages. Closing this loophole is contentious due to its role in facilitating legitimate e-commerce.
     
     
6. Cartel Resources and Corruption:
   • Mexican cartels, which dominate fentanyl production, have vast financial resources and sophisticated smuggling operations. Corruption and limited enforcement capacity in Mexico further complicate efforts to disrupt production and trafficking.
     
     
7. Demand in the US:
   • High demand for opioids in the US fuels the market for illicit fentanyl, which is often mixed with other drugs like heroin or counterfeit pills, increasing its lethality and reach. This demand incentivizes traffickers to find new smuggling methods.
     
     
8. Limited International Cooperation:
   • While US-China counternarcotics cooperation has improved (e.g., a 2023 working group), China’s inconsistent enforcement and geopolitical tensions limit progress. Diplomatic efforts often yield token gestures rather than sustained action.
     
     

Efforts to Combat Smuggling

• US Actions: The US has deployed advanced drug-detection technology at borders, increased CBP inspections, and imposed sanctions on Chinese chemical companies. The Department of Justice has indicted key players, and new laws have stiffened penalties for smuggling.
  
  
• International Cooperation: The US works with countries like Mexico, India, and others to intercept precursors and train authorities. For example, US-funded programs in South Asia help detect fentanyl precursors.
  
  
• Proposed Solutions: Some advocate for tariffs on Chinese goods (e.g., pollution tariffs) to pressure Beijing economically, while others call for revising the de minimis rule to increase scrutiny of small packages.
  

 Conclusion

Fentanyl smuggling from China to the US relies on exploiting global trade systems, lax regulations, and the adaptability of criminal networks. Stopping it is challenging due to the high volume of trade, ease of production, regulatory loopholes, and limited international cooperation. A multifaceted approach—combining stricter trade policies, enhanced border security, international pressure, and demand reduction—may help, but the crisis remains a formidable national security and public health challenge.

[CriticalStinker]

#1 The US Navy isn't going to light up a speedboat in international waters without actionable intelligence. You're making it sound as if Trump's hovering over a  maritime radar is picking blips on the screen and directing the Navy to eliminate them
 

That premise is based on trust.

There are plenty of examples post WWII where administrations do things with an official narrative, but an anterior motive. 

How many dictatorships do we directly support right now? So I think it's fair to question going after a country that has almost no market share in the drug trade.