US strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro have rewritten the rules of the decades-long “war on drugs.”
But while certain smuggling routes have been disrupted, the overall flow of drugs has not stopped. Criminal groups are instead adapting, leveraging alternative transport methods and transshipment points to keep cocaine flowing to the United States, Europe, and beyond.
With the United States already scaling down its military presence in the Caribbean, InSight Crime examines what impact its controversial military-first approach has had on regional drug trafficking. Our team has also developed a visual guide to illustrate how drugs flow through some of the region’s most important trafficking routes.
Featured Story
Did US Military Strikes Impact Caribbean Drug Trafficking?
The United States’ military-first approach in the Caribbean have disrupted certain drug trafficking routes. But traffickers have already adapted and Venezuela remains important to the cocaine trade.
ReadVisual Explainer
Why Cocaine Keeps Flowing Through the Caribbean: A Visual Guide
The Caribbean has long been a pivotal node in the global drug trade, acting as a stepping stone for South…
ExploreCredits:
Writing and Research: Alex Papadovassilakis, Sara García, Henry Shuldiner, Sean Doherty, Beatriz Vicent, Cassia Jefferson, Mark Bassant
Fact-checking: Alex Papadovassilakis, Sara García, Henry Shuldiner, Sean Doherty, Beatriz Vicent, Cassia Jefferson
Editors: James Bargent, Deborah Bonello, Jeremy McDermott
Graphics: María Isabel Gaviria, Juan José Restrepo, Isabella Soto
Creative Direction: Elisa Roldán
