The term “Cartel of the Suns” has become widely used to describe drug trafficking networks linked to political and military sectors of the Chavista regime. But its imprecise use has contributed to misunderstandings about how organized crime in Venezuela actually operates.
InSight Crime has documented how these networks have become embedded within the Venezuelan state through years of field research. Informal agreements and alliances, institutional protection, and multi-level corruption schemes are at work. Understanding these dynamics—beyond a label—is key to grasping the true scope of this phenomenon.
Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the central question is what the future holds for this system of state corruption, and what changes lie ahead under a new balance of power.
