U.S. Military Targets Drug-Trafficking Vessel in Pacific Strike

The United States military reported on Monday that it conducted an operation against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities. According to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the strike occurred on Sunday and aimed at a vessel navigating known drug-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific.

Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel’s active involvement in narco-trafficking, SOUTHCOM stated. The operation serves as a potent reminder of SOUTHCOM’s ongoing battle against drug cartels.

Accompanying the announcement was grainy footage showing a boat before an explosion. While the military did not specify the type of boat, it appeared to be a semi-submersible, sometimes referred to as a ‘narco sub.’ These vessels, not fully submersible, are often used by drug traffickers to evade law enforcement detection.

Gen. Francis L. Donovan emphasized commitment to disrupting narco-terrorist operations, dismantling leadership, and combating cartel terror across the region.

Operation “Southern Spear,” initiated last September under President Trump’s guidance, targets drug cartels in Latin America. Since its inception, over 200 people have died in strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea. However, the Trump administration has yet to provide conclusive evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking.

Critics challenge the legality and effectiveness of these strikes, particularly noting that fentanyl, responsible for many U.S. drug overdoses, typically crosses land routes from Mexico. U.S. legislators have demanded the Pentagon release unedited footage of the first strike amidst claims of a follow-on strike on initial attack survivors, with questions raised about possible war crimes.

While the Defense Department and some congressional Republicans defend the follow-on strike decision, the Pentagon’s inspector general announced in May an investigation into the adherence to the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle during the strikes, focusing on procedural rather than legal aspects.

In June, the military executed a strike in the Caribbean on a vessel accused of drug smuggling, resulting in two deaths and six survivors.