Venezuelans Are Outraged Against Imperialism: Padrino Lopez
A Venezuelan man shows his volunteer registration for the “I Enlist” campaign, Aug. 23, 2025. X/ @avnve
August 23, 2025 Hour: 2:19 pm
Currently, the FANB is conducting nine simultaneous operations to combat drug traffickers and other criminals.
On Saturday, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez spoke to the press from the General Command of the Bolivarian National Militia in Caracas.
RELATED:
Venezuelans Are Ready to Defend Their Nation’s Peace and Sovereignty
“The people are outraged with imperialism,” he said, summarizing the massive response from citizens to President Nicolas Maduro’s call for voluntary enlistment.
The Defense minister clarified that the enlistment sessions held Saturday and Sunday are part of an effort to “update records” rather than a nationwide mobilization as specified by the National Security Law.
Padrino Lopez also pointed out that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) are conducting nine operations with 164 troop deployments to combat drug-trafficking groups and other criminals.
The press conference sought to inform Venezuelans about the actions of the nation’s pillar institution to preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity while guaranteeing independence.
Padrino Lopez recalled that in January the FANB launched Operation Relampago del Catatumbo, deploying 8,000 personnel to fight drug trafficking along the Colombian border. Authorities seized 500 kilograms of drugs and destroyed four logistical camps.
“Drug-trafficking groups have entered Venezuela intending to stay, but we have not allowed it. We have become a containment wall,” the minister said.
“The imperialists don’t want to end the drug business because the U.S. economy is penetrated and sustained by those activities,” he added, mentioning that the FANB remain active along the Colombian border in Amazonas, Apure, Tachira and Zulia states.
“The drug cartels went crazy because they had an important route through Lake Maracaibo, and we destroyed it. That route no longer exists,” he said, referring to recent successes in Miranda municipality, Zulia state, where anti-drug commandos seized 31,600 kilograms of narcotics, five jet skis, and 55 modified boats.
The Security Ministry emphasized that authorities arrested business leaders and politicians tied to illicit activities and drug trafficking promoted by the far-right opposition and its international allies.
“All that financing was aimed at harming the Venezuelan people, generating terrorism and destabilization, inciting civil war and creating a fragmented homeland,” Padrino Lopez stressed.
In July, in Falcon state, Venezuelan authorities reported major blows against drug traffickers, seizing 6,152 kilograms of narcotics, a fishing boat and a stranded submersible in Paraguana.
In August, the FANB carried out an operation in Sucre state, dismantling human-trafficking and drug-trafficking networks. Authorities seized 14 rifles, two rocket launchers, five 40-millimeter grenades, nine GPS devices, boats and more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
Padrino Lopez also said security defense is being carried out through multiple operations: Relampago del Catatumbo in La Guajira state; Cacique Manaure in Falcon; Maroa in Amazonas; Guara in Delta Amacuro; Vuelvan Cara in Apure; and Guara and Mano de Hierro along the entire Caribbean coast.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: Somos Noticia – Radio Miraflores – teleSUR
