The U.S. Navy has surged eight warships into Caribbean and Pacific waters near several Central and South American countries for an enhanced counter-narcotics operation. The force includes three destroyers, two landing dock ships, an amphibious assault ship, a cruiser and a littoral combat ship. Destroyers carry U.S. Coast Guard and law enforcement detachments authorized to detain or arrest suspects during drug interdictions. The deployment follows White House consideration of using military force against drug cartels. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro faces U.S. accusations of running a drug cartel and a $50 million reward for capture. Maduro mobilized 15,000 troops to the Colombian border and called for militias. Navy officials declined to specify exact operating locations.
The U.S. Navy is surging eight warships to the Caribbean and Pacific waters near several Central and South American countries, a significant buildup for a region that has rarely seensuch a large presence of U.S. military vessels and a move that has escalated tensions with nearby Venezuela. The ships are part of an "enhanced counter narcotics operation" to carry out drug interdiction missions in Latin America, a defense official told The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity, to provide details
In total, three destroyers, two landing dock ships, an amphibious assault ship, a cruiser and a littoral combat ship are either in the region or on their way. The destroyers are each carrying detachments of U.S. Coast Guard and law enforcement officials aboard who would carry out detentions or arrests in drug interdictions. The news of a potential buildup of warships in the regionhas raised suspicions that
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