allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as a terrorist organization. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his country will designate the Cartel of the Suns as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and referred to the “illegitimate” Nicolas Maduro as its leader. The US Department of Justice accuses Maduro and other leaders of Chavista Venezuela, such as Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, of belonging to this alleged criminal organization. Washington has long maintained that the top echelons of the Venezuelan state are controlled by a criminal organization that accuses of sending illegal drugs to the United States. Maduro has always vehemently denied the accusations and recently said that the US government “is manufacturing a war” against Venezuela.

Designating organizations as terrorist groups gives US law enforcement and the military more power to target and dismantle them.

According to a press release issued by the State Department, the designation of the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization will take effect on November 24.

The United States has already designated several cartels as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and others in Mexico and Ecuador.

In announcing the measure, Rubio said: “Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent the legitimate government of Venezuela.”

The United States has sent its largest military deployment to the Caribbean in decades and has carried out at least 21 attacks against suspected drug-trafficking vessels, killing at least 83 people, in the last few weeks.

However, has not provided evidence about who was on board, and lawyers have said the attacks could violate international law.

Rubio's announcement comes as speculation mounts about whether the US could attack ground targets inside Venezuela as part of an attempt to exert military pressure on Nicolas Maduro to oust him from power.