The USS Dunham (DDG109) was observed yesterday, September 22nd, southeast of Blanquilla, appearing to head towards Trinidad and Tobago, according to a post from X user Flightwatcher1. The naval vessel's sighting occurred in proximity to San Juan de Unare, the town from which the first narcolanche sunk by the U.S. originated. This development follows President Donald Trump's strong statements at the UN General Assembly on September 23rd, where he vowed to "erase your existence" from Venezuelan terrorists and drug trafficking networks led by Nicolás Maduro, stating, "We started using the US Army Supreme Force to destroy Venezuelan terrorists and drug trafficking networks led by Nicolás Maduro." Earlier today, within a reporting window that concluded at 6:38 PM UTC, a fire broke out at the La Paz Metro workshops in the La Vega Parish of Caracas, caused by the deflagration of stored gas tanks. Firefighters successfully contained the blaze, and no injuries or fatalities were reported. President Trump's rhetoric against drug cartels and his direct accusations linking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to these networks, including the designation of the Aragua train as a foreign terrorist organization, signal an escalation in U.S. policy concerning international drug trafficking. The White House has previously stated that U.S. actions have significantly curtailed maritime drug trafficking from Venezuela, claiming "There are no ships that dare to cross our waters with drugs."
