Since the operation began, the United States has interdicted more than 84 metric tons of cocaine and marijuana. One thousand drug-trafficking suspects have been arrested; several of them were pulled from cartel-built mini-submarines. The success of this operation has resulted in more than $3 billion in lost revenue to the cartels and to the Maduro regime. By Robert O’Brian. Full Text-> NewYorkPost

Furthermore, without supporting local organizations and addressing the conditions driving so many Venezuelans to illicit activities, the impacts of the effort will not be sustainable. The following enhancements could improve the U.S. effort to reduce drug trafficking and help ensure a lasting solution. By Laura Burroughs. Full Test -> The Maritimes Executive

American crews have seized haul after haul of drugs since the White House announced “enhanced” operations one month ago — but two broad goals of that strategy are so far unmet. First, Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro remains in power even after the new counter-narcotics gambit and other attempts by Washington to pressure what many nations consider his illegitimate regime. By Philp Ewing. Full Text -> npr

Adm. Craig Faller, head of U.S. Southern Command, said in an interview that the recent decision to double anti-narcotics assets in Latin America was months in the making and not directly tied to Maduro’s indictment in New York on charges of leading a narcoterrorist conspiracy that sent 250 metric tons of cocaine a year to the U.S. Full text -> Curaçao Chronicle

On Wednesday, the president assured that his Administration will double the deployment of ships and combat soldiers in the Caribbean and in the Pacific to prevent the cartels are entrenched during the global emergency of the coronavirus. However, his team put the accent in the Caribbean and did not hide that the strategy aims to intensify the pressure against the regime of Nicolás Maduro, whom the u.s. justice formally charged with drug trafficking. Full text -> The New Lagoon

Maduro’s regime, which has managed to cling to power more than a year after the U.S. stepped up sanctions to ban Venezuelan oil exports to the United States, now has to cope not only with the three crises but also with additional pressure from the Trump Administration. By Tsvetana Paraskova. Full Price -> Oil Price

So, while these deployments are designed to deter Maduro from attacking Guaido’s person, they’re also intended as a response to his rejection of the U.S. offer. The Trump administration wants Maduro to believe that his continuing intransigence will lead only to a more painful fate. Considering the justifiably limited appetite in Washington for military intervention in Venezuela, however, I’d suggest that Maduro still retains the cards. If and until Cuba abandons him and the military flips against him, the dictator will continue to sit relatively secure in power. By Tom Rogan, Full text -> Washington Examiner

The Trump administration announced Wednesday afternoon that the U.S. is moving newly-deployed naval ships toward the coast of Venezuela as it enhances counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean following a U.S. indictment of Nicolás Maduro on drug charges. Officials announced a 22-country coalition, led by the US will be operating in the region. Ships including Navy destroyers, Air Force surveillance aircraft are in the Caribbean, officials said. Full text -> CBS