The U.S. is planning to deploy three warships near Venezuela as it ramps up its fight against drug cartels at sea, a source briefed on the matter told NBC News .

The ships are the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson, the source said.

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With illegal border crossings at record lows, the Trump administration is increasing its efforts to stop drug trafficking at sea. According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security , as part of Operation Pacific Viper this past weekend, USCGS Stone interdicted two vessels and seized about 3,500 kilograms of cocaine south of the Galapagos Islands while detaining six Ecuadorian smugglers.

President Donald Trump has declared several Latin American d

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