No, Venezuelan Fishing Boats Aren’t Bringing Fentanyl to the U.S.

By Kevin E. Triggs 

Before anyone talks about “bombing fishing boats” or “stopping fentanyl from Venezuela,” here are the actual facts:

Distance:

The closest point between Venezuela and the United States is 1,073 miles.

That’s over a thousand miles of open ocean.

Fishing boats:

A typical fishing boat would need 6–12 full tanks of fuel to even attempt that trip.

It’s not a realistic trafficking route — it’s not even physically practical.

How much fentanyl comes from Venezuela?

Virtually none.

Venezuela is not a source country for fentanyl going into the United States.

Where U.S. fentanyl actually comes from:

• China supplies most of the precursor chemicals
• Mexico manufactures the illicit fentanyl
• Fentanyl enters mostly through ports of entry by land, hidden in vehicles — not fishing boats

So the idea that Venezuelan fishing boats are flooding the U.S. with fentanyl is not just wrong — it’s physically impossible.

If we want to solve the fentanyl crisis, we have to start with facts, not myths.