US Military Targets Alleged Drug Vessel in Pacific, Resulting in Two Deaths and One Survivor
On Monday, the U.S. military confirmed a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving one survivor. This incident marks a continuation of the military's aggressive stance against suspected drug trafficking activities.
Under President Trump's administration, there has been a notable emphasis on dismantling drug trafficking networks. The military's statement on social media indicated that the targeted vessel was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations," although independent verification of these claims remains pending.
In response to the incident, Ecuador's Maritime Rescue Coordination Center has initiated search and rescue operations, with the U.S. Coast Guard providing technical assistance. This marks the third known military action since the recent raid that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Following this latest strike, the total fatalities attributed to U.S. military actions against alleged drug vessels has reached 130. This figure underscores the administration's broader strategy to exert control over oil resources in South America.
As part of this initiative, seven tankers have been seized previously. Earlier today, military forces intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. This operation is part of an "oil quarantine" aimed at pressuring Venezuela, which is currently facing U.S. sanctions on its crude exports.
Venezuela has been reported to utilize a "shadow fleet" of tankers with false flags to smuggle oil into global markets, circumventing these sanctions. The intercepted vessel was among several that departed from the Venezuelan coast following the raid to apprehend Maduro.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed shipyard workers in Maine, emphasizing his directive to military commanders: "the only guidance I gave to my military commanders is none of those are getting away." He further stated, "I don’t care if we got to go around the globe to get them; we’re going to get them."
Just last week, another strike by the U.S. military targeted a vessel accused of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, resulting in two fatalities. U.S. Southern Command confirmed that this boat was struck while "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific." A video shared on social media showed the vessel engulfed in flames post-strike.
This incident coincided with an unverified claim made by Defense Secretary Hegseth on his personal social media account, where he suggested that "some top cartel drug-traffickers" had decided to halt all narcotics operations indefinitely due to recent military actions. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate this assertion.
Additional reporting by other sources has highlighted the ongoing complexities surrounding these military operations and their implications for regional stability.
