Cartel of the Suns

Cartel de los Soles
The group's name comes from the "sun" insignia of Venezuelan generals.
Years active1993–present
TerritoryVenezuela
EthnicityVenezuelan and Venezuelan-American (Florida and Texas operations)
Leader(s)Nicolás Maduro (alleged)
Mario Camara (alleged)
Tareck El Aissami (suspected)
ActivitiesDrug trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering
Allies
Rivals

The Cartel of the Suns (Spanish: Cartel de los Soles) is a Venezuelan organization supposedly headed by high-ranking members of the Armed Forces of Venezuela who are involved in international drug trade.[1] According to Héctor Landaeta, journalist and author of Chavismo, Narco-trafficking and the Military, the phenomenon began when Colombian drugs began to enter into Venezuela from corrupt border units and the "rot moved its way up the ranks."[2]

  1. ^ a b "Cartel de los Soles". InSightCrime. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. ^ Wyss, Jim (27 January 2015). "Venezuela's Maduro calls reports that Cabello faces drug charges 'vulgar'". Miami Herald. Retrieved 1 February 2015.