U.S. Military Targets Alleged Drug Vessel in Eastern Pacific, Claims Three Lives
On Friday, the U.S. military confirmed a strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.
According to U.S. Southern Command, this operation targeted a boat navigating a well-known drug trafficking route.
“Intelligence indicated that the vessel was actively engaged in narco-trafficking operations along established routes,” the military stated.
Earlier this week, Southern Command reported that three boats were struck on Monday, leading to 11 fatalities across the Pacific and Caribbean regions.
Since September, military actions against vessels suspected of drug trafficking have drawn scrutiny from some congressional members, who question the legality of these operations.
Prior to Friday's incident, at least 41 strikes had been recorded, resulting in a minimum of 134 deaths, as per Department of Defense data.
The Trump administration maintains that these strikes target "designated terrorist organizations" involved in drug smuggling.
However, the military has not disclosed evidence substantiating its claims regarding the vessels, their occupants, or the nature of their cargo.
In January, relatives of two Trinidadian men killed during a U.S. strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat filed a lawsuit against the government, marking the first wrongful death claim related to these military actions.
The lawsuit alleges extrajudicial killings, asserting that the deceased were merely fishing and returning home when their boat was attacked. A Pentagon spokesperson noted that they do not comment on ongoing legal matters.
