President Donald Trump has reportedly authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to carry out covert operations in Venezuela as part of a wider campaign to dismantle narcoterrorist networks across Latin America.

The New York Times cited U.S. officials who said the CIA has been cleared to take lethal action against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his regime.

The authorization reportedly allows the agency to act independently or as part of a broader military operation involving the U.S. and allied forces. While details remain classified, the order signals a major escalation in America’s campaign against international drug cartels.

The report follows similar claims by NBC News that U.S. military officials have been weighing strikes inside Venezuela against drug traffickers tied to the Maduro government. Some officials have even hinted at potential “regime change” if the dictator continues to protect criminal organizations.

The CIA’s covert mandate could include operations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, where drug trafficking routes have fueled waves of violence and fentanyl deaths in the United States.

President Trump has already authorized direct military strikes on several narcoterrorist vessels off Venezuela’s coast. The latest operation took place this week.

In the most recent action, Trump confirmed that the targeted boat was linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization.

Meanwhile, Maduro has tried to project defiance from Caracas.

“If the gringos threaten us, we will work harder. If the gringos attack, we will respond, but nothing will stop our work,” Maduro said earlier this month, according to El País.

Maduro has also moved to strengthen his defenses, doubling the number of troops along Venezuela’s Caribbean coastline and its border with Colombia, according to CBS News.

In response, the U.S. military has mobilized additional assets in the Caribbean to disrupt drug trafficking routes and intercept shipments heading toward the United States. The Pentagon has not confirmed exact troop numbers but said the mission’s focus is to stop narcotics bound for American shores.

The New York Times noted that while the CIA has long cooperated with Latin American governments on intelligence sharing, it has not had direct authorization for lethal operations until now. The move gives the agency new flexibility to disrupt cartel activity before drugs reach U.S. territory.

The Trump administration’s strategy marks a significant shift from previous years, combining military, intelligence, and diplomatic power to target the cartels that have destabilized large parts of the region.

By tying Venezuela’s regime directly to narcoterrorism, the White House aims to cut off funding pipelines that fuel both drug smuggling and anti-American operations in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump’s authorization comes amid a renewed push to dismantle the global drug trade and strengthen U.S. border security through aggressive action overseas. The administration believes that stopping traffickers abroad is the best way to protect Americans at home.

The CIA declined to comment on the report, as is standard for active or classified operations.

For now, all eyes are on Caracas, where Maduro’s defiance may soon meet the full weight of Trump’s new policy — one that promises to strike at the heart of the narco-state itself.