Venezuela's interior minister stated on Thursday that none of the 11 individuals killed in a U.S. military strike on a boat in the Caribbean last week were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, according to Reuters. The statement from Caracas asserts that Venezuelan investigations and inquiries with families of the disappeared found no connection to the gang or drug trafficking. The U.S. military strike occurred in the Caribbean last week, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. The Venezuelan government's claim directly contradicts any potential U.S. assertion that the targeted individuals belonged to the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. This development follows earlier reports from September 11th concerning ongoing detonations from a fireworks factory explosion in Maracaibo's industrial zone, which had prompted significant ambulance mobilization. Earlier on September 11th, Venezuelan official Diosdado Cabello had issued a warning regarding actions against Venezuela, stating they "will cost a lot of blood and sacrifice." This statement preceded the activation of the "Independent Plan" and occurred in the context of the European Parliament designating the "Los Soles poster" and a Colombian narco figure as terrorist organizations. The previous reports also suggested that the Venezuelan government's "Independence Plan 200" was characterized as a demonstration of vulnerability, with limited participation and a lack of public support.
