US Navy destroys drug boat allegedly tied to Venezuela's Maduro

(Web Desk): US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces killed 11 drug traffickers in an operation carried out on a boat on Tuesday. According to him, the group was under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

According to the news agency AFP, Trump also released a video on social media, in which a speedboat can be seen that explodes with a loud blast shortly after.

Trump said that the US military destroyed a drug-laden boat in international waters, which was transporting drugs towards the United States. According to the President, no harm came to US forces during the operation.

The American President warned that this is a message to all cartels and groups attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US will use its full strength to dismantle drug networks. According to him, the boat had departed from Venezuela.

On the other hand, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro alleged that the US naval deployment poses a threat to his country. He ordered the military to remain on high alert and said that Venezuela would take all necessary measures to defend its territory.

Relations between the US and Venezuela have further deteriorated in recent days. The US has increased the reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 million, while Caracas has appealed to the United Nations to end the US military deployment.