NEW YORK - While the United States continues to label Venezuela as a major actor in international narcotics trafficking, the United Nations’ World Drug Report 2025 paints a very different picture. According to the UN’s latest global assessment of the cocaine economy, Venezuela barely registers in production statistics and appears only marginally as a transit point—contrary to the long-standing narrative from Washington.
Global Cocaine Production Reaches Historic High
The UN report shows that worldwide cocaine production reached 3,708 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a staggering 34% increase compared to the previous year and the highest level ever recorded. The number of users also climbed to 25 million, confirming that both supply and demand continue to grow.
But what stands out is where the cocaine is produced.
Colombia, Peru, Bolivia Still the Core Producers — Not Venezuela
Despite U.S. rhetoric targeting Venezuela, UN data points firmly elsewhere. The UNODC Colombia Coca Survey 2023 reveals:
253,000 hectares of coca cultivation in Colombia
2,664 tons of pure cocaine produced in 2023
Colombia now accounts for two-thirds of all global production
In contrast, Venezuela is not listed as a producer in the UN report and appears only occasionally in analyses of certain smuggling routes. There is no evidence that Venezuela cultivates coca or produces cocaine on any significant scale.
This contradicts years of U.S. statements describing Venezuela as a “narco-state.”
Historical Comparison: A Dramatic Shift Since the 1990s
The contrast becomes even sharper when comparing today’s figures with those from the era of Pablo Escobar:
Early 1990s global production: 900–950 tons per year
Colombia produced only 14% of global coca leaf (100–150 tons of cocaine)
Today, Colombia produces twenty times more cocaine than it did in 1991
Yet the political narrative from Washington has shifted attention toward Venezuela, despite no statistical support from the UN.
Experts Question U.S. Assertions
The most recent U.S. strike on a boat allegedly carrying members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was presented by President Trump as a message to drug cartels. But independent investigators—such as Jeremy McDermott of InSight Crime—note that there is no convincing evidence that this group is involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking.
International legal experts have also raised concerns about the legality of the American actions in Caribbean waters.
Are Other Motives at Play?
The persistent disconnect between U.S. accusations and UN data fuels speculation about deeper geopolitical motives:
Venezuela possesses some of the world’s largest oil reserves
The U.S. retains strategic interests in the region
Pressure on the Maduro government may serve purposes beyond counternarcotics policy
Regional analysts suggest that counter-drug operations may be a pretext layered over broader political objectives.
Implications for Curaçao and the Wider Caribbean
Although the Caribbean islands—including Curaçao—play no significant role in cocaine production or processing, their proximity to Venezuela places them at the edge of rising tensions between Washington and Caracas.
The islands lack NATO protection, making geopolitical shifts in the region especially sensitive. Any escalation—whether military, political or economic—could indirectly affect:
regional security
tourism
maritime activity
and diplomatic relations
With U.S. strategic flights and naval movements increasing near Venezuelan territory, Caribbean governments are watching developments with growing concern.
A Narrative Under Pressure
As more UN data becomes public, the long-standing U.S. portrayal of Venezuela as a central hub of the cocaine trade appears increasingly difficult to justify. For now, the divide between political messaging and verified data remains wide—raising urgent questions about the real drivers behind U.S. actions in the Caribbean basin.
The Caribbean, caught between competing global interests, must navigate carefully as the geopolitical tide continues to shift.