After a U.S. military strike on a suspected drug boat off Venezuela’s coast, an all-formats AP team delivered the first on-the-ground report from the remote Paria Peninsula — the departure point for the vessel at the center of a deadly escalation in hemispheric anti-drug policy.
Reporting under security risks, the team revealed that local fishermen, often cast as cartel operatives, are driven into drug trafficking out of economic desperation. With Venezuela downplaying the strike and the U.S. releasing only AI-generated imagery, AP broke new ground in holding both sides accountable.
The package featured a deeply reported text story, a striking photo gallery, and a social-first video that drew wide viewership. Team members moved discreetly through militarized zones to give voice to marginalized fishermen, prompting Venezuela’s government to respond within hours. This exclusive reporting stands as a bold example of AP’s global reach and its commitment to revealing the human stories behind geopolitical flashpoints.
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