US destroys another alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific

"The US military on Thursday said it killed two people in a strike on a boat suspected of carrying illegal drugs in the eastern Pacific. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the US Southern Command posted on X. It added that "no US military forces were harmed" in the operation. The statement did not offer any evidence that the boat pictured was actually carrying narcotics before it was blown up in the attack."

"The strike is the second since the US kidnapped the then-Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a military operation on January 3 and brought him to the United States on charges that include narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. Deadly strikes on boats accused of trafficking drugs Since early September, President Donald Trump's administration has been targeting alleged smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Thursday's strike brings the reported death toll from these operations to 128, according to official figures."

Two people were killed in a US strike on a boat suspected of carrying illegal drugs in the eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking operations. No US military forces were harmed, and no evidence was offered that the pictured boat carried narcotics before it was destroyed. The strike followed the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3 and his transport to the United States on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation charges. Since early September, alleged smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have been targeted, with official figures reporting 128 deaths. The campaign, Operation Southern Spear, is described as intended to eliminate "narco-terrorists" and protect the United States from "the drugs that are killing our people." US authorities have not presented evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking.

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