26 Feb Commentary – Sonic weapons, CIA in country, and other things to come…
By,
LTC Octavio Pérez, US Army (Ret.), Co-Founder and Senior Fellow, MSI²
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)
Recent events surrounding Venezuela suggest the operational use of advanced sonic technologies, expanded intelligence coordination, and a potential permanent CIA footprint ahead of full diplomatic normalization. These developments indicate a multidomain approach integrating acoustic systems, electronic warfare, cyber operations, and intelligence presence as part of a broader stabilization and transition strategy.
Why This Matters
The combination of non-lethal sonic systems, coordinated Special Operations capabilities, and early intelligence positioning reflects how modern statecraft blends military precision with political maneuver. Venezuela’s transition environment is volatile, layered with transnational criminal actors and geopolitical competitors. Understanding these dynamics is critical to anticipating how U.S. influence, regional stability, and future security frameworks may evolve.
Things are moving around; change is in the air. By the time this article is printed, maybe other important events may have taken effect, so remember that everything you write is a capsule in time. It is a reflection of what is going on on the day it is written. If you listen to the gossip and the lead news headlines, you would end up crazy and possibly more confused than before.
But let’s go over the latest news on Venezuela, the news being covered these days, starting with the admission of using sonic weapons.
The Evolution and Use of Sonic Weapons
For those of you who may not know, you can go back to the siege of Jericho, a.k.a. (also known as) the Fall of Jericho, the Battle of Jericho. In the Book of Joshua, Chapter 6, verses 1–27, Joshua talks about the fall of the walls of Jericho, attributed to the horns (shofar) of the priests and the Ark of the Covenant as they circled the city. So, you have a documented first use of a potential sonic weapon as far back as 1400 BCE.
Bringing the time clock to our modern era (mid-20th century), during WWII the Germans developed an Acoustic Cannon, which would have used methane and oxygen to create a deafening explosion. Fortunately, it was never deployed or used.
By 1973, for crowd control in many police and armed forces, several systems were in development, including a squawk box used in Northern Ireland as riot control.
Bringing it into the 21st century, we became more sophisticated. LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Devices) were deployed in Iraq and by the 5th Fleet in the Straits of Hormuz to deter Iranian rubber rafts trying to attach mines to tankers. These devices were eventually adopted by many police departments for civil disturbances.
By 2005, a sonic blaster was in use against Somali pirates, and development has continued into infrasound and ultrasound frequencies.
After 2017, the attacks on U.S. and Canadian embassy employees, otherwise labeled as the Havana Syndrome, also suggested the use of sonic weapons, although in that case, it leaned more toward the use of a microwave device.
The fact is that all these innovations, such as LRADs, emit sound beams above 120 dB with a directional and narrow cone of projection that can cause hearing damage, dizziness, and pain. These weapons are designed to incapacitate, not to kill, but as we now know, they can cause long-term health issues.
So, the development of these weapons has significantly improved, and they have been in use by military and police forces for some time.
After today’s hearing at the Foreign Services Committee, where Secretary Rubio covered in part the success of the operation, we also found out that the duration of the firefight lasted 27 minutes. This would mean that either portable manpack units, pre-positioned devices, or helicopter-borne devices may have been in use.
Venezuelan officers and civilians who were in the assault area and in areas leading to the LZ (landing zone) of the assault and retrieval teams must have been subjected to these devices for almost 30–40 minutes, causing bleeding from their noses and ears.
The “discomcuagulator,” as the President said, did the job effectively and curtailed reinforcements into the objective. We have only heard of 32 Cuban deaths as part of the three rings of security, but other unofficial sources claim that more than 100 members of the force (both Venezuelan and Cuban) died that night.
The integration of these weapons into an assault of this magnitude proved to be crucial. Expect more to come in future Special Operations missions.
Don’t forget the cumulative effect of all weapons: EW (Electronic Warfare) interfering with radars, permitting the destruction of both radar and ADA (Air Defense Artillery) batteries, as well as cyber operations (shutting down the electrical grid, scrambling and interfering with communications). All put together in those 30–45 minutes of assault within the 2:20 hours of the whole event were overwhelming to a force that had never expected or trained against such a formidable enemy.
The psychological impact on those who attempted to defend and stand their ground has been discussed weeks later.
So yes, sonic weapons were used, and no, we probably won’t get any specifics because they are the talk of the town, and the intrigue has also drawn the attention of other U.S. adversaries, such as Russia and China, who are trying to find out what they are.
Still, another possibility would be concussion grenades, which also disorient with a loud bang and bright light that impair vision, balance, and hearing.
A lot of speculation has already been printed, such as claims that the government bought special off-the-shelf equipment and improved it. But that will take time to confirm.
Political Realignment and the Rodríguez Factor
Moving into the second subject, which also came out in Secretary Rubio’s deposition, there was the question of why we would be working with the Rodríguez family as part of the interim government, and whether there were any charges against them by the DEA.
The Secretary very calmly answered the question, reiterating that both Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez have had charges since 2018 by the DEA in investigations dealing with the execution of rivals, other crimes, narcotrafficking, money laundering, and gold contraband.
So when he said they are cooperating, there is a good reason why. That led to another question: whether the U.S. would attack Venezuela. He calmly replied that it was not in the plans, but that we reserved the right to do so if they did not cooperate.
CIA Presence and Strategic Stabilization
The final question being asked these days deals with the CIA establishing operations in Venezuela even before reopening the embassy.
Again, if you do not realize that the CIA has had informants and operatives in-country for some time, then you still believe in Santa Claus. At least three major operations within the last 12 months provide evidence of their footprint in Venezuela.
The extraction of five members of the opposition from the Argentine embassy, the assistance to María Corina Machado in exiting to receive her Nobel Peace Prize, and the assault to capture Maduro serve as examples of CIA assistance.
The fact that the CIA Director flew in, met with the acting president and her staff, and read them the Riot Act (do’s and don’ts) when it comes to external actors such as China, Russia, Iran, and others is also telling.
Since we closed the embassy in 2019 (more than six years ago), it will take time to get it back online, debugged, and cleared for operations, and the CIA does not have time to waste.
There are too many outstanding issues in the area:
- Transnational organizations such as the ELN, FARC, Hezbollah, Tren de Aragua, and Cartel de los Soles.
- Internal gangs (colectivos) sponsored by the Maduro government as a repressive quick-reaction group, controlled by Diosdado Cabello.
- Potential internal disputes between the Rodríguez siblings, Padrino, and Cabello.
- Chinese-run digital networks control identification card registries and other state agencies.
The government ceased to operate as a conventional government over 10 years ago; it is more of a criminal organization performing multiple activities, all as corrupt as can be, now controlled by the Rodríguez clan.
Therefore, the CIA must keep a permanent presence on the ground. Between the State Department and the CIA, they must reassure stability during the re-entry process of millions of Venezuelans during a political transition to democracy, all in a highly volatile security situation.
Its role as an influencer, identifying personnel to run institutions and security forces who will build the new Venezuela, and by being first on the ground, can facilitate other State Department personnel using the facility until the embassy is reopened.
It also complies with federal and diplomatic law that forbids embassy workers from engaging other countries’ intelligence agencies. The CIA can bridge this gap, especially during this process.
Once again, let’s not forget that Venezuela expelled the DEA in 2005. Chávez accused them of being a spy agency engaged in espionage. Like all federal agencies working overseas, they must collaborate with the NSA, CIA, and other law enforcement entities in the U.S. while deployed.
They maintain close relationships with foreign governments and have aided in vetting foreign partners.
Also, keep in mind that the DEA has more than 80 offices worldwide, making it one of the largest U.S. agencies deployed. And yes, as a result of their investigations, they do collect intelligence.
So for now, Venezuela will likely have a CIA Annex pretty soon, a beachhead, a centerpiece for coordination, given all the potential instability and security issues, and it would facilitate the re-establishment of the embassy.
Sonic weapons are part of the mix and will be used as necessary. There are no plans to attack Venezuela, but the option remains on the table if a transition or security reason arises.
That would be the best assessment so far.
Three Key Takeaways
- Sonic and multidomain technologies are no longer experimental; they are integrated into modern operations and will likely expand in future missions.
- Intelligence presence precedes diplomatic normalization. A CIA footprint is a strategic stabilizer during volatile political transitions.
- Venezuela’s transition environment involves transnational actors, criminal networks, and geopolitical competitors, requiring coordinated State Department and intelligence engagement.
References
Fuller, H. (2026, January 5). CIA operations in Venezuela that are now public. Military.com. https://www.military.com/feature/2026/01/03/cia-operations-venezuela-are-now-public.html
Latin Times. (n.d.). CIA plans permanent footprint in Venezuela as U.S. influence grows; state plants flag at agency. https://www.latintimes.com/cia-plans-permanent-footprint-venezuela-us-influence-grows-state-plants-flag-agency-593950
Latin Times. (n.d.). Former Venezuelan general says Delcy Rodríguez and brother have consolidated power as “true architects of the dictatorial regime”. https://www.latintimes.com/former-venezuelan-general-says-delcy-rodriguez-brother-have-consolidated-power-true-architects-593769
Reddit. (n.d.). Witness cites mysterious weapon in U.S. operation against Maduro. https://www.reddit.com/r/HighStrangeness/comments/1qaf88g/witness_cites_mysterious_weapon_in_us_operation/
Stratfor Worldview. (2026, January 27). U.S., Venezuela: CIA presence in Venezuela points to Trump’s long-term ambitions. https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/us-venezuela-cia-presence-venezuela-points-trumps-long-term-ambitions
Telegrafi. (n.d.). Published plans show CIA agents will be in Venezuela after Maduro’s fall. https://telegrafi.com/en/Published-plans-show-CIA-agents-will-be-in-Venezuela-after-Maduro%27s-fall/
The Independent. (2026, January 21). Trump claims a secret “sonic weapon” was used in Venezuela raid: Nobody else has it. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-venezuela-sonic-weapon-maduro-b2904520.html
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute (MSI²).