Venezuela’s acting leader was once a DEA ‘priority target’: report
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez has appeared in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intelligence files dating back several years and was labeled a “priority target” in 2022, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The documents show the DEA has intelligence files on Rodríguez going back to at least 2018, with her name appearing in multiple investigations across several U.S. and international field offices, though she has never been publicly accused of any criminal wrongdoing, the outlet reported.
The DEA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The “priority target” designation is used by the agency to focus investigative resources on individuals or organizations believed to play a significant role in major drug trafficking or money laundering operations affecting the United States, according to a 2008 DEA assessment.
VENEZUELA’S ACTING PRESIDENT TOUTS ‘NEW POLITICAL MOMENT,’ HINTS AT FURTHER RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
Rodríguez was formally sworn in as Venezuela’s new leader on Jan. 5, just two days after U.S. forces extracted Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from their compound in Caracas in an early-morning military operation.
Maduro and Flores were taken into U.S. custody and flown to New York to face federal charges.
Maduro is charged with four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices. His wife is charged with three counts: cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices.
TRUMP PLANS TO MEET WITH VENEZUELA OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO NEXT WEEK
The White House has been working with Rodríguez in the weeks since Maduro was ousted. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he spoke with Rodríguez by phone and praised her as a “terrific person.”
“We discussed a lot of things and I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela,” he said.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado criticized Rodríguez as the Trump administration engages with the Maduro ally, arguing she does not represent the Venezuelan people.
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“I want to insist on this: Delcy Rodríguez, yes, she’s a communist. She’s the main ally and representation of the Russian regime, the Chinese and the Iranians, but that’s not the Venezuelan people and that’s not the armed forces, as well,” Machado said at a Heritage Foundation event on Friday.
“So I am profoundly, profoundly confident that we will have an orderly transition. This is a complex phase we are in right now. Some of the dirty work is being done by them,” she added. “But then, the result of a stable transition will be a proud Venezuela who is going to be the best ally the United States has ever had in the Americas.”
Piers Morgan clashes with Roger Waters, accuses the rocker of propping up dictators while attacking Trump
Piers Morgan slammed Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters for “trying to prop up terrorists and powerful dictatorships” while Waters criticized President Donald Trump as “demented” and “evil.”
Waters appeared on Friday’s episode of “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” where he lambasted Trump as a “real scumbag,” and, according to Morgan, came to the defense of leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
During the interview, Waters argued that Putin “really has tried not to hurt civilians” during his ongoing invasion of Ukraine and referred to Maduro as the “duly democratically elected leader” of Venezuela despite his election being widely labeled fraudulent by international observers and critics within his own country.
PIERS MORGAN PANEL ERUPTS IN FIERY CLASH WITH GUEST BEING ACCUSED OF SPREADING ‘JIHADI ISLAMIST PROPAGANDA’
“I support [Maduro] because he’s the duly democratically elected leader of a country that represents all the principles of Bolivarian and Chávez revolutionary process,” Waters asserted. “So, so he represents the people of Venezuela [who] live a completely different way of life than in the United States, where I live, or in England, where you live.”
Waters said of Trump, “He’s demented. He’s obviously very evil.”
The rock star added that the Trump administration “made up the daft story” of Maduro being a drug trafficker to justify invading Venezuela, calling the claim “errant nonsense.”
Later on in the interview, Waters said the West should “be careful what they wish for” in regard to ousting Putin, warning that whoever replaces him may be far worse than he is.
“Then you will see something completely different, because Putin has conducted the special military operation with his gloves off. He really has tried not to hurt civilians and so on and so forth,” he argued.
PRO-MADURO GROUPS PROTESTING TRUMP’S ACTIONS IN SOCIALIST COUNTRY INCLUDE SOROS-BACKED ORGANIZATION
After Morgan expressed his puzzlement at what Waters said about Putin, the Pink Floyd star told the host, “See, you know nothing, Piers.”
“Vladimir Putin illegally invaded a sovereign democratic country and started bombing the s— out of it. Why? Why would you, on any level, try to excuse or defend it?” Morgan asked.
Contrasting Waters’ remarks about the United States with his comments about countries like Russia and Venezuela, Morgan asked the musician why he doesn’t leave America for one of those countries.
“You rail a lot about America and about Donald Trump, but you live in America, right? I mean, there’s inconsistency there. Why live somewhere if you hate it so much or hate the leaders so much? Why don’t you act to the point of principle, get off your backside and go and live in Iran or Venezuela? Live under one of these regimes that you think aren’t too bad,” Morgan railed.
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“Piers, do stop, do stop. Maybe I will, but to answer your question about me being successful in rock and roll and blah, yes I am, very and blah blah blah and all of that. Why do I do all of this? Because I believe — I hope you’re listening — I believe in right and wrong. I have a moral compass. … I have moral compass which I allow to guide my actions,” Waters shot back.
After telling Morgan that he appeared on the show to be a “voice for the voiceless,” Morgan questioned who the “voiceless” people were that Waters was claiming to be speaking out for.
“Although it suits you to say, ‘I only stand up for the voiceless,’ actually, it sounds to me like you like to stand up for terror groups and call them resistance. You like to stand up for dictators and say they’re just massively misunderstood guys,” he told Waters.
“So, when I look at your worldview, I don’t see a guy — with all due respect, Roger — who’s standing up for the voiceless and powerless. I see somebody trying to prop up terrorists and powerful dictatorships and regimes.”
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FAA warns about flying in Central, South America and eastern Pacific, citing possible ‘military activities’
The Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots of U.S. airlines about flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing possible “military activities” and satellite navigation interference.
The warning was issued Friday in a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) distributed by the FAA, which said, “Potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and the arrival and departure phases of flight.”
“The FAA issued flight advisory Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for specified areas of Mexico, Central American, Panama, Bogata, Guayaquil, and Mazatlán Oceanic Flight Regions, and in airspace within the eastern Pacific Ocean,” the agency also told USA Today.
It’s unclear what prompted the advisories, which tell aircraft operators to “exercise caution.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the FAA for comment.
TRUMP DISCUSSES EXPANSION OF DRUG CARTEL CRACKDOWN
The notices come after months of U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific.
In November, the FAA had warned all pilots to exercise caution when flying in the airspace over Venezuela “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity.”
In December, a JetBlue flight from the Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker.
HEGSETH SIGNS OFF ON WOUNDED US TROOPS KEEPING BULLETS, SHRAPNEL REMOVED FROM THEIR BODIES AFTER MADURO RAID
Earlier this month, the Trump administration carried out a military operation capturing Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
President Donald Trump also recently told Fox News that the U.S. will expand operations against drug cartels.
“We’ve knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water, and we are going to start now hitting land,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in early January. “The cartels are running Mexico, it’s very sad to watch and see what’s happened to that country.”
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The latest FAA notices will be in effect for 60 days.
Hegseth signs off on wounded US troops keeping bullets, shrapnel removed from their bodies after Maduro raid
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, revealed dramatic new details Wednesday about the covert Jan. 3 mission targeting Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, describing U.S. troops who continued fighting after being shot and later asking to keep the bullets and shrapnel pulled from their bodies.
In a new “Verdict with Ted Cruz” podcast episode, Cruz detailed a trip with fellow Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth to a San Antonio hospital to visit three of the seven soldiers wounded during Operation Absolute Resolve.
Cruz said American troops were “vastly outnumbered,” describing Cuban military members, tasked with guarding Maduro, opening fire on U.S. soldiers.
“It is an incredible testament to the precision and effectiveness of our military that not a single soldier on the American side was killed,” Cruz said. “There was a very large number of Cuban forces defending Maduro who were killed in that firefight.”
LAWMAKER WHO FLED COMMUNISM DRAFTS SPECIAL RESOLUTION HONORING TRUMP AFTER MADURO OUSTER
The first soldier the politicians visited helped plan the “entire raid” and was leading one of the helicopters when he was shot in the leg, according to Cruz.
“Even in the midst of being shot in the leg, [he] continued,” Cruz said. “He did not step back from the fight, and he was critical, in terms of his location, protecting his fellow soldiers.”
During a discussion with the soldier, Cruz said Hegseth extended an offer for anything the soldier needed.
“[The soldier] said, ‘Well, actually, there is something you could do,’ and Pete says ‘what?’” Cruz said. “[The soldier] says, ‘I’d really like the bullet,’ the bullet that went into his leg.”
INSIDE THE LIGHTNING US STRIKE THAT OVERWHELMED VENEZUELA’S DEFENSES AND SEIZED MADURO
Cruz explained the hospital’s medical director previously told the soldier the hospital could not hand it over to him without a waiver.
“Pete, to his credit, said, ‘The waiver is granted, you can have the bullet,’” Cruz said. “That soldier was beaming. He was thrilled to have the bullet.”
The second soldier the group met with had also been shot and cut by a piece of shrapnel, causing a gash running the entire length of his arm.
“He had the exact same request,” Cruz said. “He said, ‘I’d really like the shrapnel.’ They had the piece of metal that had cut his arm open, and again, the hospital said, ‘We have it, but we’re not allowed to give it to him without the waiver.'”
Hegseth also signed off on the second soldier’s request, according to Cruz.
US RAID IN VENEZUELA SIGNALS DETERRENCE TO ADVERSARIES ON THREE FRONTS, EXPERTS SAY
“Both of those, I assume that they’re going to frame it or otherwise keep it as just a memento to the injury, the Purple Heart that they earned fighting for their country, but also being a part of profoundly impacting history,” Cruz said.
While the names and ages of the wounded soldiers, who are now all in good condition, have not yet been publicly released, Cruz said the first soldier was a bit older than the other two, who he described as “young guys.”
“If you saw them walking down the street, you wouldn’t do a double take,” he said. “The first guy kind of looked a little like Captain America, [and] the other two looked like they were fit … but the skill that you know they have, the heroism you know they have — if you just saw them on the street, you wouldn’t immediately know that.
“With all three of the soldiers, I took an opportunity to tell them, ‘Look, you were part of history. You were part of history in a way, without exaggeration, that changed the entire Western hemisphere. What you did was profoundly important … and I took the chance on behalf of Texans and Americans just to say, ’Thank you. Thank you for your bravery.'”
Cruz added the first soldier, who was shot in the leg, had some friendly banter with the Pentagon chief.
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“Hegseth asked him, ‘How are you feeling?’ And he said, ‘I’m ready to go again,'” Cruz said. “I said, ‘Great, can you do Saturday?’ And he said, ‘Well, can we hold off till Monday?’ So, that kind of gives you a sense of the spirit [the soldiers had].”
Cruz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
IOC rejects requests to ban the US from Winter Olympics over Venezuela strike
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has responded to calls to exclude the U.S. and its athletes from the upcoming Winter Olympics over the country’s recent military intervention in Venezuela.
The committee ruled out any penalty on the U.S. in the aftermath of the intervention.
“As a global organization, the IOC has to manage a complex reality. The IOC has to deal with the current political context and the latest developments in the world,” the IOC said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
“The ability to bring athletes together, no matter where they come from, is fundamental to the future of values-based, truly global sport, which can give hope to the world.
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“For this reason, the IOC cannot involve itself directly in political matters or conflicts between countries, as these fall outside our remit. This is the realm of politics.”
Russian athletes are banned from competing in the Olympics since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. Russian invaded Ukraine just four days after the closing ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February of that year, which is a violation of the Olympic Truce clause in the IOC charter. Russia also put Ukrainian athletes there under the control of the Russian Olympic Committee.
The U.S.’s strike on Venezuela violated no such charter and has been praised by many in the international community due to the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro and the toppling of his regime.
The effort came after months of pressure on Venezuela as the Trump administration conducted more than 20 strikes in Latin American waters targeting alleged drug traffickers as part of Trump’s broader initiative to curb the influx of drugs into the U.S.
UN URGES COUNTRIES TO HONOR TRUCE DURING WINTER OLYMPICS, NOT DENY VISAS TO ANY NATION’S ATHLETES
The IOC faced similar calls to exclude Israel from the Olympics over the Gaza war, but those requests were also declined as the committee stated that the country’s national Olympic committee had complied with the Olympic Charter.
However, Indonesia may face a penalty for violating the Olympic Charter, even if it doesn’t result in the exclusion of the country’s athletes from competition.
The IOC previously condemned the country for its denial of visas to Israeli athletes and declared it a breach of the international charter. All conversation about Indonesia hosting a future Olympics was terminated, and the IOC advised global organizers not to schedule any major events in the country.
The Indonesian government cited safety concerns for its decision to deny the Israel team visas, warning of potential threats within its country to the safety of the Israeli athletes and risk the safety of others.
However, Team Israel claimed its own country’s security detail determined the country was safe to enter and cleared its athletes to travel there.
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“We received authorization from the Israeli Security Authorities to participate in the World Championship subject to the necessary security protocols in place. From our side, all preparations were complete — registration process, entry visas to Indonesia and Israeli Security Authorities confirmation,” the Israel Gymnastics Federation previously told Fox News Digital.
Indonesia was previously stripped of its right to host the under-20 World Cup when the governor of Bali refused to host Team Israel in a game.