U.S. Navy ships are reportedly heading towards Venezuela as the administration beefed-up counter-narcotics operations after a drug indictment against Nicolas Maduro.

President Donald Trump made the announcement on Wednesday at the start of his daily press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the South American country is now suffering from Maduro's criminal control over the nation.

The goal, Esper said, is to double the counter-narcotics capacity in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific---a goal supported by 22 partner nations.

The mission has been on the table for months. It took a greater urgency after Venezuela's socialist leader, along with members of his inner circle, were accused of leading a narcoterrorist conspiracy. The group allegedly smuggled more than 250 metric tons of cocaine into the United States.

Jorge Rodriguez, Maduro's communications minister, hit back at the claim. He said the United States' cocaine supply mostly comes from Colombia, a known US ally.

Wanted Poster for Nicolas maduro
(Photo : Reuters/Handout)

Maduro also blasted the Trump administration's $15 million rewards for his arrest. He claims the government only aims to take control of Venezuela's vast oil reserve.

The Trump administration recently proposed to lift sanctions on the country if current-Venezuelan President Maduro and his opponent, Juan Guaido, step back and allow an interim government made up of five members to run the country.

Under the proposed framework, political prisoners will be released and foreign forces with be forced to leave the country. The council would be made up of four members chosen by the opposition and Maduro, with the last member chosen by the chosen four.

Should the democratic transition framework push through, the United States will lift sanctions placed on Venezuela's oil business.

The Trump administration imposed sanctions against seven Venezuelan politicians on January 13, 2020. The sanctions froze any U.S. assets owned by the seven lawmakers and effectively preventing them from engaging in business transactions with companies located in the United States.

In 2019, President Trump signed an executive order that prevented the government of Venezuela from transferring, paying, exporting and withdrawing from its properties and interests in the United States.

The proposal came after Maduro's regime failed to properly prepare and address the coronavirus crisis currently sweeping across the globe.

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, said the plan is designed to help the Venezuelan people find a solution to the manmade crisis in the country---including fixing its crippled health system to ensure Venezuela's full recovery.

The recent military operation is one of the largest since the 1989 invasion of Panama where the United States removed General Manuel Noriega from power and brought him to the country to face drug-smuggling and money-laundering charges.

"Operation Just Cause," which was ordered by former President George H. Bush, deployed more than 9,000 US soldiers to join the U.S. military personnel in Panama which was 12,000 strong. The operation involved different military assets like Navy warships and on-ground special forces.

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