U.S. Threatens Venezuela With More Sanctions If President Maduro Proceeds With Abolishing The Constitution

DW: Donald Trump threatens Venezuela with 'economic actions'

US President Donald Trump has threatened action against his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, whom he called a "bad leader who dreams of becoming a dictator." The political impasse in Venezuela has intensified.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened "strong and swift economic actions" against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Venezuela if it proceeds with plans for a July 30 election to choose an assembly to retool the constitution. The American leader's warning came shortly after nearly 7.2 million Venezuelans rejected Maduro's proposed changes in a non-binding referendum.

"The United States will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles," Trump said in a statement, adding that in that the voters' "strong and courageous actions continue to be ignored by a bad leader who dreams of becoming a dictator."

Read more ....

Update #1: Trump threatens sanctions if Venezuela creates Constituent Assembly (CNBC/Reuters)
Update #2: Trump Threatens Venezuela With Sanctions (The Atlantic)

WNU Editor: The U.S. wants to prevent any possibility of this .... Goldman Sachs Under Fire For Buying Venezuelan Bonds (May 30, 2017), and to make sure that no U.S. companies are propping up Venezuela's oil industry. In the meantime .... it is now going to get very tense in Venezuela .... Venezuela opposition turns heat up on Maduro with strike call (Reuters).

U.S. Considering Sanctions Against Venezuela's Oil Sector

The corporate logo of the state oil company PDVSA is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela April 12, 2017. REUTERS/Marco Bello

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. considers possible sanctions against Venezuela oil sector - officials

The Trump administration is considering possible sanctions on Venezuela’s vital energy sector, including state oil company PDVSA, senior White House officials said, in what would be a major escalation of U.S. efforts to pressure the country’s embattled leftist government amid a crackdown on the opposition.

The idea of striking at the core of Venezuela’s economy, which relies on oil for some 95 percent of export revenues, has been discussed at high levels of the administration as part of a wide-ranging review of U.S. options, but officials said it remains under debate and action is not imminent.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the United States could hit PDVSA as part of a “sectoral” sanctions package that would take aim at the OPEC nation’s entire energy industry for the first time.

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WNU Editor: The Venezuelan government has been expecting this for a long time .... Venezuela braces for possible U.S. oil sanctions (World Oil). What probably clinched it was the Goldman Sachs $2.8 billion dollar bond this past week  purchase that now gives the Venezuelan government some breathing room for the next month or two.

More News On The U.S. Considering Sanctions Against Venezuela's Oil Sector

Exclusive: Trump administration concerned about U.S. firms giving financial 'lifeline' to Venezuela -- Reuters
New Leak: Trump administration has its eyes on Goldman-Venezuela bailout deal -- American Thnker
No To US Sanctions On Venezuela - Let Maduro's Regime Collapse On Its Own -- Tim Worstall, Forbes

U.S. Congress Issues A Warning That Russia May Gain Control of A U.S. Oil Company

OilPrice.com: U.S. Oil Assets Could Fall Into Russian Hands If Venezuela Defaults

If Venezuela defaults on its debt obligations, it could result in Russia taking control over U.S. refining assets, leading to more Russian “control over oil and gas prices worldwide,” which would “inhibit U.S. energy security, and undermine broader U.S. geopolitical efforts.”

That is the warning from two members of Congress, Reps. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Albio Sires (D-NJ). The two Congressmen sent a joint letter to the U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, requesting his attention on the matter. A bipartisan group of six U.S. Senators also requested a response from Secretary Mnuchin on the matter.

They cite the fact that Russia’s government-backed oil company, Rosneft, gave Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, a $1.5 billion loan. As collateral, PDVSA offered up 49.9 percent of Citgo, a subsidiary of the Venezuelan oil company. Citgo owns three refineries in the U.S., along with pipelines and retail gas stations.

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WNU Editor: If Venezuela defaults, Russia would get 49.9% of the company .... Washington raising red flag over Russian control of US energy supplier (RT).

More News On US Congressional Worries That Russia May Takeover A US Oil Company

Russia could soon control a U.S. oil company -- CNN
Will Russia's Oil Company Take Over U.S. Citgo? Lawmakers Raise Alarm -- FOX News
Dem warns Russia may gain control of US oil company -- The Hill
US Oil Company Could Fall to Russia as Venezuela Struggles to Pay Its Bills -- Newsweek
US Senate Joins House in Call for Review of Venezuela PDVSA Deal with Russia's Rosneft over Citgo -- Latin American Herald Tribune

Venezuelans Are Now Fleeing To The U.S. In Record Numbers

WNU Editor: Here comes he next waves of refugees/migrants .... Venezuela now leads US asylum requests as crisis deepens (AP). Am I surprised? No. I have been predicting this for the past few months .... The Threat Of Mass Migration Looms For Venezuela (January 2, 2017). Millions fled Cuba for a better life .... I expect the same will happen for Venezuela.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Meets Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro In Cartagena, Colombia

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (L) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry talk during their meeting in Cartagena, Colombia September 26, 2016. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

NBC: John Kerry Meets With Venezuela Pres. Maduro in Colombia

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal encounter between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat.

The two sat down together after a ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end that country's civil war.

"(Kerry) spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges," said State Department Spokesman John Kirby.

Read more ....

WNU editor: There is nothing much that the U.S. can do when it comes to Venezuela. The country is disintegrating .... but the Venezuelan government has shown lmited interest in changing its policies.

More News On U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Meeting Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro In Cartagena, Colombia

Venezuela's Maduro calls for new era of relations with U.S. -- Reuters
John Kerry tells Maduro he's 'deeply concerned' with situation in Venezuela -- FOX News
John Kerry 'deeply concerned' about crisis in Venezuela; meets with Nicolas Maduro -- UPI
John Kerry expresses concern over humanitarian situation in Venezuela -- IBTimes
Colombia Peace Accords Set Stage for Meeting Between Maduro and Kerry -- Venezuelanalysis

Relatives of Venezuelan President Indicted for Drug Smuggling

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Arrests Two Relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Drug-Trafficking Charges

U.S. agents arrest two on charges they conspired to transport 800 kilograms of cocaine to the U.S., according to two people familiar with the matter

U.S. agents have arrested two relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on charges they conspired to transport 800 kilograms of cocaine to the U.S., according to two people familiar with the matter.

The arrests come amid U.S. accusations that the top echelon of the government in Caracas is involved in the narcotics trade.

The two men, Efraín Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas, were first arrested in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Tuesday by local police, turned over to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and flown the same day to New York in a DEA jet, these people said. The two were scheduled to go before a federal judge in New York on Thursday, they said. A spokesman for the federal district court declined to comment.

More News On The Relatives of Venezuelan President Being Indicted for Drug Smuggling

Nephews of Venezuelan First Lady Indicted in US Court -- NYT/AP
U.S. arrests two Venezuelans who say they’re related to President Maduro. -- Washington Post
Venezuelan first lady's nephews indicted in U.S. on drug case. -- Reuters
2 nephews of Venezuelan first lady indicted on U.S. drug smuggling charges -- USA Today
Relatives of Venezuela President Arrested on Drug Charges -- Bloomberg
Nephews of Venezuelan 1st lady indicted in U.S. on drug charges -- FOX News/EFE
Nephews of Venezuelan First Lady Reportedly Arrested by U.S. Officials for Alleged Drug Trafficking -- Venezuelanalysis.com
Venezuela leader condemns 'imperialist' attacks after drug arrests. -- Business Insider
Venezuelan president criticises 'imperialist ambushes' after two relatives arrested by US for drug trafficking -- The Telegraph
Venezuelan President Lashes Out At U.S. at U.N. Meeting -- NBC

U.S. - Venezuelan Talks Take Place In Haiti

BBC: US Venezuela talks take place in Haiti despite tensions

Details have emerged of a high-profile meeting in Haiti between Venezuela and the United States.

Thomas Shannon, a counsellor to the US Secretary of State, met the chairman of Venezuela's national assembly, Diosdado Cabello.

Venezuelan officials tweeted that both sides had been working to resolve the crisis in their relations.

Earlier this year, Venezuela accused the US of plotting a coup and the US declared Caracas a security threat.

Venezuela ordered the US to reduce its embassy staff and imposed a visa requirement on US visitors.

More News On Recent U.S. - Venezuelan Talks

US envoy meets Venezuela official in Haiti as diplomatic thaw continues -- The Guardian/Reuters
U.S., Venezuela Diplomats Meet on Neutral Ground -- Bloomberg
U.S., Venezuela meet in Haiti to discuss repairing icy relations -- UPI
US and Venezuela hold key diplomatic meeting -- Deutsche Welle

A Very Brief Meeting Between Venezuelan President Maduro And President Obama At the Summit Of The Americas

U.S. President Barack Obama (front row, L) and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (top row, R) attend the inauguration ceremony of VII Summit of the Americas in Panama City April 10, 2015.

Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Reuters: Obama meets Venezuela's Maduro at time of high tensions

(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro privately at a regional summit on Saturday and tried to ease tensions that surged after the United States recently placed sanctions on Venezuela.

Maduro had earlier challenged Obama to discuss his decision to sanction seven Venezuelan officials, saying in a speech to the summit in Panama that he had been trying to arrange a meeting with Obama for two years but never received a response.

Obama was not present at the time but the two later met. A Venezuelan government spokeswoman said they greeted each other in Spanish and had a respectful conversation.

A U.S. official said it was a brief conversation just as Obama was leaving for his return to the United States.

WNU Editor: What can I say about Venezuela .... trillions in oil wealth .... but toilet paper is hard to find. Hmmm .... reminds me of what life was like living in the old Soviet Union .... on paper we were one of the richest nations in the world .... even though we had problems finding toilet paper.

More News On Today's Brief (Very Brief) Meeting Between Venezuelan President Maduro And President Obama

Obama meets Venezuela's president on sidelines of summit -- AP
Obama, Venezuela's Maduro speak at summit amid tensions -- Channel News Asia/Reuters/AFP
Obama, Venezuela's Maduro speak at summit amid tensions -- iFocus

Venezuelan President Maduro Condemns New US Sanctions. Wants Additional Powers To Deter U.S. 'Aggression'

BBC: Venezuelan leader Maduro condemns new US sanctions

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called the latest US sanctions "the most aggressive, unjust and harmful step that has ever been taken by the US against Venezuela".

In a televised address, Mr Maduro named one of seven officials sanctioned by the US as his new interior minister.

He also announced he would seek special powers from the National Assembly "to defend the integrity of the country".

Tensions between the two countries have been rising for months.

More News On Venezuelan President Maduro Condemning New US Sanctions

Venezuela's Maduro seeks decree powers to face U.S. 'imperialism' -- Reuters
Venezuela's President Seeks Increased Power -- AP
Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro Asks Special Powers To Deter US Sanctions 'Aggression' -- IBTimes
Maduro: US trying to ‘defeat’ Venezuela govt with sanctions, we’ll fight back -- RT
Venezuela's Maduro hails sanctioned officials, names one minister -- Reuters
U.S. declares Venezuela a national security threat, sanctions top officials -- Reuters
Venezuela recalls its envoy to Washington over US Sanctions -- AFP
Obama declares Venezuela a national security threat -- Al Jazeeera
EU rules out Venezuela sanctions for now -- Gulf Today
Fidel Castro and Evo Morales Condemn US Sanctions on Venezuela -- Telesur

President Obama Declares Venezuela A Threat To U.S. National Security

Reuters: Obama declares Venezuela a threat to U.S. national security

(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order on Monday declaring Venezuela a national security threat, sanctioning seven individuals and expressing concern about the Venezuelan government's treatment of political opponents.

"Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption will not be welcome here, and we now have the tools to block their assets and their use of U.S. financial systems," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.

More News On President Obama Declaring Venezuela A Threat To U.S. National Security. Imposes Sanctions

Statement by the Press Secretary on Venezuela -- White House
FACT SHEET: Venezuela Executive Order -- White House
Obama sanctions 7 Venezuelan officials accused of human rights violations, corruption -- AP
Obama sanctions 7 government officials in Venezuela -- USA Today
Obama Imposes Sanctions On Venezuela, Invoking Emergency Powers -- NPR
U.S. Sanctions Venezuela Officials, Calls Country a Threat -- NBC
U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials Under New Order -- WSJ
Obama orders sanctions on Venezuelan officials -- Washington Times
Obama Orders Expansion of Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials -- Bloomberg
US Imposes Sanctions on Senior Venezuela Officials - White House -- Sputnik
U.S. to Freeze Assets of Seven Venezuelan Officials -- WSJ
No direct effects on Venezuela oil sector from new U.S. sanctions -U.S. official -- Reuters
Is Venezuela on the 'Short Road to Disaster'? -- Katy Barnato, NBC

Venezuela Accusses The U.S. Of Plotting A Coup. Cuts U.S. Embassy Staff And Restricts U.S. Travel

Daily Mail: Venezuela president claims to have captured U.S. pilot accused of 'recruiting citizens to stage a coup'

* 'Pilot' with 'Latino roots' detained in Táchira, border with Colombia, in the last few days, President Nicolas Maduro claims
* 5 other U.S. nationals and 4 missionaries have been detained recently
* All accused by Venezuelan government of 'espionage' and 'recruitment'
* Comes as tensions rise between the two nations, Maduro accused the U.S. of trying to overthrow him
* There has been a recent surge in anti-government protests in Caracas

More News On The Deteriorating Relations between The U.S. And Venezuela

Venezuela's Maduro claims his country has captured U.S. spies -- CBS/AP
Maduro Claims Venezuela Detained US Citizens for Espionage -- Sputnik
Venezuela: Arrested US Pilot Was Spying -- VOA
Detained American Missionaries Leave Venezuela -- NYT
Venezuela to Reduce U.S. Embassy Staff, Require Tourist Visas -- WSJ
Venezuela to limit the number of US diplomats -- Euronews
Venezuela Orders U.S. Embassy to Reduce Staff in Caracas -- Bloomberg
Venezuela to shrink US Embassy staff, require Americans to apply for tourist visas -- FOX News
Venezuela to limit staff at U.S. Embassy and require $160 visa for American tourists -- Fusion
Marco Rubio calls Venezuela ban a 'badge of honor,' LatAm country to limit U.S. diplomacy -- FOX News

Did Venezuela Threaten Aruba And The Netherlands To Release It's Former Intelligence Chief Wanted In The US For Drug Trafficking?

U.S. Official: Venezuela Threatened Aruba, Netherlands To Force Release Of Spy Chief -- FOX News

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – U.S. officials are saying Venezuela may have used threats to obtain the freedom of a former general detained in Aruba at the request of the American government.

In a statement released Monday morning, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says there are credible reports that Venezuela threatened the governments of Aruba, the Netherlands and others to force the release of former military intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal.

Carvajal was arrested when he arrived to serve as Venezuela's consul on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. On Sunday, the Netherlands ruled that he was protected by diplomatic immunity.

Read more ....

More News On Aruba Releases Venezuela's Former Intellgience Chief Wanted In The US For Drug Trafficking

Aruba frees Venezuelan official Hugo Carvajal wanted by US -- BBC
Threats force Aruba to release Venezuela general -- NL Times
Venezuelan Officers Linked to Colombian Cocaine Traffickers -- NYT
Aruba Says Venezuela Raised Military Pressure on It -- WSJ
Ex-Spy Chief Gets Hero’s Welcome in Venezuela after Days in Aruba Jail -- Latin American Herald Tribune
US Unhappy Over Release Of Former Head of Venezuelan Intelligence Held On Drug Charges -- IBTimes

My Comment: For Venezuelan officials wanted in the U.S. .... I suspect that they are now going to be very careful on where they are travel.

Two U.S. Embassy Military Attaches Shot And Wounded At Venezuelan Strip Club

 

Two U.S. Embassy Military Attaches In Venezuela Shot And Wounded At Strip Club -- Daily Mail 

Two U.S. Embassy military attaches in Venezuela have been wounded in a shooting at a well-known strip club in Caracas, local authorities say.

Officers heard shots around 4.25am Tuesday at the Antonella 2012 club, better known as 'Angelus' in the upscale Chacao district, a police source told Reuters.

An employee told Agence France-Presse that the the bar is a strip club that only admits men over age 30.

Pictures of female strippers line the entrance to the club.  

Read more ....

More News On Two U.S. Embassy Military Attaches Shot And Wounded At A Venezuelan Strip Club  

Two US embassy personnel shot in Venezuela -- AFP
U.S. Military Attache Shot and Injured in Venezuelan Nightclub -- Bloomberg Businessweek
2 U.S. officials shot in Caracas nightclub -- CNN
U.S. Embassy workers hurt in Venezuela strip club shooting -- Reuters
2 US embassy officials injured in Venezuela -- FOX News/AP
Were U.S. officials behaving badly in Latin America again? -- Uri Friedman, Passport/Foreign Policy

President Obama: Idea That American Held By Venezuela Is A Spy 'Ridiculous'

Idea That American Held By Venezuela Is A Spy 'Ridiculous': Obama -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The Venezuelan government's suggestion that an American citizen it has detained is a spy is "ridiculous," U.S. President Barack Obama said in a television interview recorded on Saturday during a visit to Costa Rica.

Venezuela said late last month it had detained an American called Timothy Hallet Tracy, accusing him of financing opposition student demonstrations after April's disputed presidential election and saying he had clearly been trained as an intelligence agent.

Venezuela said Tracy, 35, from Michigan, had received money from a foreign non-profit organization and had redirected those funds toward student organizations, seeking to provoke "civil war".

Relatives and friends of Tracy have described him to U.S. media as a documentary maker who was in Venezuela to make a film about the presidential election.

Read more ....

My Comment: Venezuela responds.

Venezuelan Expels U.S. Diplomats

Venezuela Expels US Diplomat For 'Espionage' -- Al Jazeera

Venezuela's VP Nicholas Maduro accuses the country's 'historic enemies' of being behind the cancer of the president.

A United States diplomat will be expelled from Venezuela within 24 hours for plotting against the government, Vice President Nicholas Maduro has said.

In a live address to the nation on Tuesday, Maduro said the US embassy military official was being expelled from the country for seeking out active Venezuelan military officials to propose "destabilisation projects."

Maduro identified the Amnerican as the Air Force attache and said he had been spying on the military. US Embassy spokesman Greg Adams identified the attache as David Delmonaco.

Read more ....

More News On Venezuelan Expelling U.S. Diplomats

Venezuela Expels 2 US Diplomats; Vice President Claims Hugo Chavez was Poisoned -- FOX News Latino
Venezuela to expel U.S. Embassy official -- USA Today
Venezuela orders U.S. Embassy attache to leave country -- L.A. Times
Venezuela expels US embassy official -- Financial Times

Venezuela Detains U.S. Vessel And Crew On Suspicion Of Arms Trafficking

Ocean Atlas

Venezuela Holds U.S. Vessel And Crew On Suspicion Of Arms Trafficking -- Forbes

The Venezuelan government has seized a U.S. flagged ship and detained its captain for more than a week.

Since August 29 the ship Ocean Atlas has been at port in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where it docked to unload a cargo of equipment. Yet after four hours in port, the ship was boarded and searched by armed security personel, and the captain was detained on suspicion of trafficking in arms or drugs.

Read more ....

More News On Venezuela Detaining A U.S. Vessel And Crew On Suspicion Of Arms Trafficking

Venezuela Arrests U.S. Captain Of Cargo Ship Ocean Atlas -- Huffington Post/Reuters
Venezuela detains captain of U.S. ship, crew members say -- CNN
U.S. Crew of Cargo Ship Said to Be Arrested in Venezuelan Port -- Bloomberg
American cargo ship captain detained at Venezuela port -- FOX News/AP

President Obama: Venezuela's Chavez Is Not A Serious Threat To The U.S.

Obama: Chavez Doesn't Pose Serious Threat To U.S. -- USA Today

President Obama said Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez poses no "serious" national security threat to the United States, comments that are drawing some criticism in South Florida.

"We're always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe," Obama told a Spanish language television station based in Miami. "But overall, my sense is that what Mr. Chavez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us.

Read more ....

More News On President Obama's Comment That Hugo Chavez And His Iranian Ties Are Not A Serious Threat To The U.S.

Obama: Hugo Chavez, Iran ties not a ‘serious’ security threat to US -- The Hill
Obama says Hugo Chavez not ‘serious' threat, Rubio pounces -- Yahoo News/ABC News
Obama: Hugo Chávez 'Has Not Had a Serious National Security Impact on Us' -- Weekly Standard
Obama: US closely watching Iran's 'destabilizing activity' in Latin America -- The Hill
Mitt Romney calls Obama comment on Venezuela 'disturbing'; Marco Rubio calls it 'naive' -- Miami Herald
Marco Rubio: Obama ‘naive’ about Chavez -- Politico
Rubio Blasts Obama for Downplaying Venezuelan Leader's Impact on Region -- FOX News
Chavez Not a Threat? Only to Obama -- Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary

My Comment: Those who have lived in communist(Cuba), authoritarian(Venezuela) Shiite (Iran) ruled regimes will probably have a slightly different point of view.

Venezuela's Chavez And Iran's Ahmadinejad Joke About Attacking The U.S. With Atomic Bombs

Allies: The president of Iran is visiting Latin America to drum up support against sanctions from the West

'We'll Set Our Sights On Washington': Chavez And Iran's Ahmadinejad JOKE About Attacking U.S. With 'A Big Atomic Bomb' -- Daily Mail

* 'That hill will open up and a big atomic bomb will come out'
* Meeting in Caracas comes on day Iran sentenced a man to death for allegedly spying on the country for the U.S.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez mocked the U.S. and joked about directing 'a big atomic bomb' at Washington as they met in Caracas today.

The president of Iran was visiting his Venezuelan counterpart in an attempt to rally support for his government in the face of tightening sanctions from the West.

Read more ....

My Comment: I am not laughing.

Why Venezuela Is Concerned About The American Base At Curaco

Curaçao Faces Friction With Chávez Over U.S. Planes -- New York Times

HATO, Curaçao — This small island in the Netherlands Antilles might go unnoticed by its neighbors if not for the importance of the foreign interests it hosts: an American Air Force installation pivotal in fighting the region’s drug trade and a huge refinery that turns Venezuelan oil into gasoline.

Chafing at the American military outpost just 40 miles from Venezuela’s coast, President Hugo Chávez is testing Curaçao’s nerves by repeatedly claiming that the Dutch government, which oversees defense issues here, is letting Washington use Curaçao as a base for planning a possible attack on Venezuela.

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My Comment: It is silly to believe that such a small U.S. base is a strategic threat against Venezuela. Instead .... Venezuela's concerns are focused on U.S. surveillance of cocaine shipments through their country .... a trend that has been increasing as neighboring Colombia continues to curtail and combat narco gangs within its own country.