In a significant development in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking, President Donald Trump announced the recent repatriation of two suspected drug traffickers to Ecuador and Colombia. This action follows a military strike in the Caribbean that targeted a so-called “drug-smuggling submarine,” resulting in the deaths of two individuals linked to the vessel.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed that the Colombian suspect who survived the incident would face legal action in his home country. Petro emphasized that he was relieved the individual was still alive and would be prosecuted in accordance with Colombian law. However, he also expressed grave concerns, accusing the United States of having killed an innocent fisherman in a previous strike.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump detailed the operation, stating, “It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route.” He mentioned that the submarine was laden with fentanyl and other illicit drugs, characterizing the suspects as “terrorists” and highlighting the U.S. military’s commitment to combating drug trafficking.
The military operations in question are part of what Trump has described as an unprecedented U.S. campaign, aimed at disrupting the flow of narcotics from Latin America to the U.S. Since September, reports indicate that U.S. forces have targeted at least six vessels, predominantly speedboats, believed to be connected to drug trafficking, with Venezuela often mentioned as an originating point.
Despite the U.S. government stating that its operations are successfully targeting drug traffickers, no conclusive evidence has been provided to substantiate claims that those killed were directly involved in drug smuggling activities. Experts have raised concerns regarding the legality of these summary strikes, noting that such actions are questionable even when directed at suspected narcotics traffickers.
Petro’s administration has voiced strong disapproval of the U.S. military operations, with the president accusing American officials of committing murder and infringing upon Colombian sovereignty in territorial waters. He referred to the tragic case of Alejandro Carranza, a fisherman reportedly killed during a U.S. military operation while he was engaged in legitimate fishing activities. The Colombian leader added that Carranza’s boat was adrift and signaling for help when it was struck, demanding explanations from U.S. authorities.
The tensions surrounding these military actions have prompted Petro to call for serious consequences, including potential criminal proceedings against U.S. officials involved in the strikes, urging international accountability for their actions at a recent United Nations gathering.
