Trump warns drug traffickers: ‘We will blow you out of existence’
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US President Donald Trump addressing the UN General Assembly in New York City on Sept 23.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Trump declared US strikes on Venezuelan drug boats a warning, threatening to "blow you out of existence" to drug traffickers at the UN.
- Trump accuses Maduro, without evidence, of leading drug networks and claims boats contained drugs to kill 25,000+ Americans.
- Maduro denies drug claims, offers talks via Grenell, stating Venezuela neutralises 70% of the 5% of Colombian drugs shipped through it.
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NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump on Sept 23 said recent US strikes on boats carrying alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers delivered a powerful warning to anyone seeking to bring drugs into the United States.
“To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned that we will blow you out of existence,” Mr Trump said, in an address to the United Nations.
Mr Trump asserted, without evidence, that every boat hit by US forces contained drugs that would kill more than 25,000 Americans.
He also repeated his assertion that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro leads drug trafficking networks, which Mr Maduro denies.
Reuters reported on Sept 20 that Mr Maduro had offered to engage in direct talks with the Trump administration via special envoy Richard Grenell days after the first US strike on a boat from the South American country, which killed 11 people.
In a letter to Mr Trump, Mr Maduro rejected US claims that Venezuela plays a big role in drug trafficking. He said just 5 per cent of drugs produced in Colombia are shipped through Venezuela – of which he said 70 per cent were neutralised and destroyed by Venezuelan authorities.
Mr Trump on Sept 19 announced at least the third strike a large US military build-up
