WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military announced on Friday that it struck an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in three survivors. This action is part of the ongoing campaign against suspected traffickers that began under the Trump administration.
U.S. Southern Command, which operates in much of Latin America, shared the information on social media, stating that it had promptly informed the U.S. Coast Guard to mobilize for search and rescue efforts regarding the survivors. However, details on whether the survivors were rescued or if there were any fatalities as a result of the strike remain unclear.
Since September, over 157 individuals are reported to have lost their lives in strikes by the U.S. military targeting what they classify as narcoterrorists operating in small vessels. U.S. Southern Command maintains that their approach is focused on engaging drug traffickers along established smuggling routes, yet has not provided substantive proof that the vessel at the center of the latest operation was indeed involved in transporting drugs. A video released shows the vessel igniting in flames as it sailed.
Former President Donald Trump has characterized the situation as an “armed conflict” against cartels in Latin America, advocating the military's methods as critical to curb the influx of narcotics into the U.S. and the overdose epidemic afflicting American communities. Nonetheless, the administration's claims regarding the elimination of “narcoterrorists” have faced scrutiny due to a lack of substantial evidence.
Critics of the military operations are raising concerns over their legality and overall effectiveness, particularly as many of the fentanyl-related overdose deaths stem from drugs trafficked over land from Mexico, rather than across ocean routes. The production of these substances often relies on chemicals sourced from countries like China and India.
