Venezuelan Chemical Company Denies Link Between Warehouse Fire and Alleged U.S. Strike Claimed by Trump

Maracaibo, Venezuela — December 29, 2025

Primazol, a Venezuelan chemical supplier, has firmly denied any connection between a fire at its warehouse in Zulia state and claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that American forces "knocked out" a major drug-related facility in Venezuela.

In a public statement released Monday, the company described the incident as an accidental fire that affected one of its storage facilities in the industrial zone of San Francisco municipality, near Maracaibo. "One of our warehouses in the Maracaibo headquarters suffered an incident," Primazol said, emphasizing that the blaze was contained with the assistance of local firefighters and posed no broader threat. The company, which imports and distributes raw chemical materials for industrial use, stressed its operations as a legitimate business with no ties to illicit activities.

The denial comes amid intense speculation sparked by Trump's casual remarks during a December 26 radio interview on WABC. While discussing U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking, the president said, "We just knocked out — I don't know if you read or you saw — they have a big plant or a big facility where the ships come from. Two nights ago, we knocked that out." Trump did not explicitly name Venezuela or provide details on the location or nature of the alleged strike, but U.S. officials later told media outlets that he was referring to a purported drug facility in the country.

The timing aligns with reports of a large explosion and fire in Zulia's industrial area in the early hours of December 24 — Christmas Eve. Videos circulating on social media showed massive flames and secondary blasts, prompting local authorities and firefighters from nearby Maracaibo to respond. Satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts confirmed significant damage at the site, which multiple sources identified as belonging to Primazol.

Analysts and online commentators quickly linked the events, noting Primazol's proximity to Lake Maracaibo, a region Trump has previously highlighted in his administration's anti-narcotics campaign for its role in alleged drug shipments by boat. Venezuela has long been accused by Washington of facilitating cocaine trafficking, though it is primarily a transit point rather than a major producer.

However, no official confirmation of a U.S. military strike has emerged from the Pentagon, the White House, or Venezuelan authorities. The Maduro government has remained silent on the matter, and local journalists in Zulia have downplayed suggestions of foreign involvement, attributing the fire to possible industrial causes. Primazol's statement further distanced the incident from any geopolitical claims, calling it a routine warehouse mishap.

Trump's comments mark a potential escalation in his ongoing pressure campaign against Venezuela, which has included maritime strikes on suspected drug vessels and threats of land-based operations targeting what the U.S. labels "narco-terrorist" networks linked to the Maduro regime. If verified, such a strike would represent the first known U.S. attack on Venezuelan soil under the current administration.

17GEN4.com