CARACAS, Venezuela (CMC) — Venezuela has ramped up its criticism of Trinidad and Tobago, which has expressed support for the United States (US) military action near the South American country, allegedly over drug interdiction, by launching Operation Cumanagoto 200.

“There’s a lot of smuggling of fuel, weapons, ammunition, and human trafficking along the axis between Macuro, La Punta, Paria Promontory and Trinidad and Tobago,” said Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who has also vowed to “clear out” any terrorist groups or drug trafficking gangs operating illegally in the region.

“This is an order from our commander-in-chief. The strategic commander is already executing it and directing all means and forces to ensure Operation Cumanagoto 200 is carried out in the eastern Caribbean,” he added.

“Sixty units will occupy the territory of the 15 municipalities of that state to scrutinise and to conduct reconnaissance and clear the area. It should be remembered that from Trinidad and Tobago, a lot of fuel smuggling occurs, as well as smuggling of weapons and ammunition, and a lot of human trafficking.

“All of that happens along the axis between Mapuro, the tip of the Paria Peninsula, and Trinidad and Tobago. So, we are going there to clear out any terrorist groups or any drug trafficking organisations that are operating illegally in that territory,” said Padrino.

Port of Spain and Caracas have been engaged in a war of words ever since Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar publicly endorsed the move by President Donald Trump to send military warships into the Caribbean Sea with the intent of preventing drug dealers from illegally carrying out their trade.

Further, Persad Bissessar has said that Trinidad and Tobago would be prepared to allow US troops to use the country as a platform for attacking Venezuela, should the Nicolas Maduro government invade Guyana, a fellow member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) grouping.

Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, last week hit back at Trinidad and Tobago’s junior Minister, Phillip Edward Alexander, who had earlier suggested that India might “nuke” Venezuela to protect the Caribbean island.

In a Facebook post, Rodríguez mocked Alexander’s remarks, saying, “the only nuclear bomb dropped was into the brain of this official’s newly-taken government”, urging Trinidad and Tobago to focus on its own people and to distance itself from Washington’s alleged plans to exploit Venezuela’s resources.

“They could not and will not, with our determination to freedom and self-determination, widely exercised in our diplomacy of peace,” wrote Rodriguez.

President Trump has already said the US military has successfully bombed three vessels allegedly carrying drugs, killing more than 14 people.

Venezuela has since called on the United Nations to investigate what it said were serial executions of Venezuelans.

Padrino on Sunday warned that any attack on Venezuela would receive a response from its military.