In Reply to: Let's take a look at the Venezuela situation... posted by Gainsborough on January 04, 2026 at 03:12:04
In 2024, drug trafficking generated a gross income of more than $8.2 billion in Venezuela for the organized crime networks involved. This illicit trade is a key part of Venezuela's "black economy," which has become a major substitute for its former oil-based economy.
Key Details on Venezuela's Drug Trade
Transit, not production: Venezuela is primarily a major transit country for drugs, mainly cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia, rather than a major producer itself.
Economic significance: A 2022 study estimated that all illicit trades (drugs, gold, gasoline, etc.) made up more than 21% of Venezuela's GDP, with drug trafficking being the most profitable activity. The 2024 income from drug trafficking reportedly equals more than half of the country's total governmental income.
Primary destination: Most of the drugs transiting Venezuela are destined for Europe, the Caribbean, and other global markets, rather than directly to the United States.