A U.S. military operation on Monday targeted a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving one survivor, marking the second such incident within four days.
According to U.S. Southern Command, intelligence indicated that the vessel was navigating established narco-trafficking routes and was actively involved in drug smuggling operations. The command stated on X, “The vessel was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”
“Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike,” the command reported, noting that the Coast Guard was mobilized for search-and-rescue efforts following the incident.
Requests for comments from the Coast Guard went unanswered immediately.
Following the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, U.S. strikes on vessels in the region had significantly decreased. Maduro, currently detained in New York, has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy related to narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking.
However, the U.S. resumed its operations against drug boats in late January, citing a renewed commitment to combat drug trafficking.
The Trump administration has defended these military actions, which began in September and have reportedly resulted in over 120 fatalities, as essential measures to curb the influx of illegal drugs into the United States.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who recently met with President Trump, has condemned these strikes, labeling them as akin to war crimes. He highlighted that Colombian civilians have suffered injuries or fatalities as a result of previous military actions.
