The United States military has confirmed that strikes on three vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea resulted in the deaths of 11 people on Monday.
The operation was carried out by the United States Southern Command, which released video footage of the strikes. In a statement, the command said intelligence had confirmed that the boats were travelling along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in illegal drug-smuggling activities.
Details of the operation
According to officials, two boats carrying four people each were struck in the eastern Pacific, while a third vessel with three people on board was hit in the Caribbean. The military described those targeted as being linked to designated terrorist organisations involved in narcotics trade.
The strikes are part of an expanded maritime crackdown launched in September 2025, aimed at disrupting drug supply chains bound for North America. US authorities have termed the campaign an intensified effort against what they describe as “narcoterrorism”.
Growing controversy
However, the operations have drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who question the use of lethal military force without publicly released evidence confirming the boats were carrying drugs.
Since the campaign began, at least 145 alleged traffickers have reportedly been killed in 42 known strikes. Critics argue that such actions raise concerns about proportionality, transparency and adherence to international law, particularly in international waters.
Supporters within the administration have defended the approach as a necessary escalation to curb drug trafficking and organised crime networks operating across maritime routes.
As global debate continues, the latest strikes highlight the intensifying measures being adopted in the fight against transnational narcotics operations.