Practically All Venezuelans Describe Maduro’s Regime as a Narco-Terrorist Organization, Survey Shows

A new survey found that nearly nine out of ten Venezuelans describe Nicolás Maduro’s government as a narco-terrorist organization, reflecting widespread public discontent and deep mistrust toward the country’s leadership.

The study, conducted by DC Consultores, polled 1,003 Venezuelans across the country and found that 86.76% of respondents characterized Maduro’s regime as a narco-terrorist structure, a perception reinforced by years of alleged links between high-ranking officials and drug trafficking operations. For most respondents, the U.S. government’s previous designation of Venezuela as a “narco-state” merely confirmed what they already believed.

DC Consultores director and political analyst Aníbal Uríos said the results show that Venezuelans see themselves on the verge of political change. “The feeling not only among Venezuelans but across Latin America is that Maduro’s regime has reached its end,” Uríos told NTN24. “Without the legitimacy of the people, there is no legitimacy in power.”

Uríos emphasized that the survey results were gathered through a combination of fieldwork and mobile devices, under conditions he described as “clandestine.” In an interview with Argentina’s MDZ, he revealed that the operation was carried out discreetly to avoid detection by Venezuela’s intelligence services (SEBIN), and that two survey workers in Caracas were briefly detained.

“The Venezuelans who worked on the ground did so very carefully, disguising questions and collecting data at different hours to evade government agents,” added Uríos.

The poll also found overwhelming backing for U.S. pressure on Maduro. Around 90% of respondents agreed that Venezuela has become a narco-state and expressed support for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions to “put an end to the dictatorship.” More than 85% said they consider the Maduro government illegitimate and recognize opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia as the country’s legitimate president.

Half of those surveyed said they would approve of a limited U.S. intervention to remove Maduro from power, while smaller portions favored more forceful actions such as targeted bombings or military intervention.

Uríos said the findings reflect both exhaustion and hope among Venezuelans after years of crisis. “They are a peaceful people,” he said, noting that nearly 90% of respondents said they would celebrate with a “national party” if Maduro and the Chavista leadership were removed.

He added that for many Venezuelans, the recent Nobel Peace Prize awarded to opposition leader María Corina Machado “felt like winning a World Cup”, even if they could not celebrate publicly. “Maduro knows his end is a chronicle foretold,” Uríos said. “The people are simply waiting for him to step aside peacefully.”