By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US will “very soon” start taking action to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on land, President Donald Trump said Thursday.

"There aren't too many coming in by sea anymore...We're going to take care of that situation. We're already doing a lot...It's about 85% stopped by sea.”

"You probably noticed that people aren't wanting to be delivering by sea, and we'll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that's going to start very soon. We warn them: Stop being poison to our country," Trump virtually told military service members.

So far, the US military has carried out 21 attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 people whom the administration has described as “narco-terrorists."

The US has for months been expanding military operations across Latin America, deploying Marines, warships, fighter and bomber jets, submarines and drones amid speculation that the US could launch an attack on Venezuela, though Trump said last Friday that he would soon speak with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro has said that Venezuela is ready for “face-to-face” dialogue with Washington.