Washington: US forces carried out another strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, according to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. This operation brings the total death toll from the United States’ controversial anti-narcotics campaign to at least 70.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the United States initiated these strikes in early September, targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Experts have raised concerns that these operations could be considered extrajudicial killings, even if they target known traffickers. Thus far, US forces have destroyed at least 18 vessels, including 17 boats and a semi-submersible. However, Washington has not yet provided concrete evidence demonstrating that the targets were involved in narcotics smuggling or posed a threat to the US.
Hegseth shared aerial footage on X, showcasing the latest strike, which he stated occurred in international waters and targeted “a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization.” The footage depicted a boat traveling through the water before being engulfed in flames. Hegseth reported, “Three male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed,” without offering further identifying information. He added a warning to those involved in drug trafficking, emphasizing, “If you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs — we will kill you.”
The Trump administration has significantly increased its military presence in Latin America, claiming its efforts are aimed at eradicating drug trafficking. This includes the deployment of six Navy ships in the Caribbean, F-35 stealth warplanes to Puerto Rico, and the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group to the region.
Families and governments of those killed in the US strikes assert that many victims were civilians, primarily fishermen. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly accused the Trump administration of attempting to remove him from power. US bombers have also been involved in shows of force near Venezuela, flying over the Caribbean Sea off the country’s coast on at least four occasions since mid-October. Maduro, who faces drug charges in the US, maintains there is no drug cultivation in Venezuela, arguing that the country is unwillingly used as a trafficking route for Colombian cocaine.
The Trump administration has informed Congress that the United States is engaged in “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels, labeling them as terrorist groups to justify the strikes. The United Nations has called on the United States to cease its campaign, with rights chief Volker Turk stating that the killings have occurred “in circumstances that find no justification in international law.”