In a candid Vlad TV interview, infamous drug trafficker Freeway Ricky Ross weighed in on recent attempts by the Trump administration to capture Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
Ross, who once operated extensively in Central America’s drug trade, revealed his perspective on Maduro’s alleged cartel ties and the harsh U.S. federal system. “He’s probably going to get found guilty like Noriega,” Ross said, referencing Panama’s former dictator extradited and imprisoned in the U.S.
Ross explained how federal drug charges are ruthless, with sentences based on drug quantities, often ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment. Despite Maduro’s status as a president, Ross believes the U.S. will prosecute him fully, especially after Maduro reportedly mocked Trump publicly—a move Ross described as “messing with” a “petty guy” like Trump. The interview sheds light on the complex intersection of politics, drug trafficking, and international law enforcement in Latin America.
Freeway Ricky alsoshared his perspective on the relentless flow of drugs into the U.S., emphasizing the futility of stopping drug trafficking at the border. Discussing the recent killing of Al Mitchell, a top figure in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel with $50 million in assets, Ricky highlighted the brutal violence linked to Mexican cartels, including shootouts and attacks affecting entire states. He noted that cartel violence far surpasses what is seen in the U.S., with ruthless tactics such as cutting off tongues to prevent snitching. Ricky also explained how the drug trade evolved, with Mexican groups rising after Nicaragua-based traffickers shifted routes post-earthquake. Ultimately, he stressed that as long as there is demand, drugs will find their way in — even penetrating maximum-security prisons — making education and prevention essential tools in combating drug use rather than relying solely on enforcement.