The US military reported the death of three individuals accused of drug trafficking during a recent strike on a boat in the Caribbean. This incident raises the total number of fatalities resulting from the US government’s anti-narcotics operations to at least 133 since the initiative began.
The campaign to target alleged smuggling boats commenced in early September under the Trump administration, which has characterized these efforts as part of a war against “narco-terrorists” believed to be operating out of Venezuela. In the weeks since, numerous strikes have been launched across regions from the Caribbean to the Pacific.
While US Southern Command confirmed the strike, stating that “three narco-terrorists were killed,” officials have yet to provide definitive evidence linking the intercepted vessels to drug trafficking activities. This ambiguity has sparked considerable debate regarding the legality and justification of the military’s actions, particularly as they expand into broader areas beyond the Caribbean.
This latest action follows closely on the heels of a significant event in which US special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Maduro, who has denounced the American military operations as a tactic for regime change, is currently detained in the United States, facing charges related to drug trafficking and weapon violations, to which he has entered a plea of not guilty.
