Published: 02/9/2026 | Author: Eric Owens

The nationwide battle with cocaine addiction has taken a turn with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro facing an indictment from the U.S. government.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), at least 130,000 Americans experienced fatal overdoses involving cocaine between 2020 and 2024. Since overdose deaths involving narcotics are often underreported, this number is likely much higher.

Expanding into Venezuela

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ramped up its war on the drug and opioid supply chain. These efforts include disrupting cocaine trafficking networks supplying the U.S. The indictment of Venezuelan President Maduro marks the U.S. government’s latest efforts. Maduro is accused of assisting in trafficking “thousands of tons” of cocaine into the U.S. for over 25 years. 

While Maduro pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, the DOJ believes he and his co-defendants benefited financially from the cocaine trade. Venezuela sits in a prime geographic location for drug traffickers. The drug trade has northern access to the Caribbean Sea and Colombia’s mountainous region in the west, where suppliers often produce cocaine. 

The DOJ alleges that Maduro connected with Colombian cocaine manufacturers and Mexican drug cartels to profit from drug smuggling into the U.S. Officials claim that Maduro and his associates made millions by providing a sanctuary in Venezuela for manufacturers and drug cartels. 

These allegations aren’t anything new for Maduro. In 2020, the Trump Administration charged him and 14 other Venezuelan officials with knowingly facilitating the yearly trafficking of 200-250 metric tons of cocaine to the U.S.

If accurate, these quantities make up the majority of cocaine smuggled into the nation annually, which has contributed to increased reliance on grassroots recovery efforts such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings to help combat narcotics addiction.

The Ongoing Battle

Despite almost four decades of public policy efforts, cocaine use continues to take the lives of tens of thousands of Americans monthly. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) 2024 cocaine report, law enforcement seizes an average of 230 tons of cocaine each year from 2020 to 2024.

Still, the battle continues, with increased emphasis on reducing access to cocaine among minors and young adults and encouraging individuals to seek treatment.

 Get Support Today

If you or a loved one need support as you undergo treatment, help is available. Explore Narcotics Anonymous meetings near you or call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) to receive immediate guidance.