United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that Trinidad has “suffered greatly” from Venezuela’s drug trafficking, as he acknowledged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s strong support for the US military strike action against a drug boat which killed 11 Tren de Aragua gang members.

Speaking at a news conference during his visit to Ecuador, Rubio said the US President vowed to “wage war” against drug traffickers, but that they will not be arrested and action will be taken to blow them up.

Noting the US has been receiving cooperation from governments in its efforts, Rubio said: “Those governments are going to help us identify them, they are going to help us find these people and blow them up if that’s what it takes, they are going to help us with it.