The U.S. military said on Sunday that it had destroyed two suspected drug trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in five deaths and one survivor, as the Trump administration continues its campaign against suspected traffickers in Latin America while preparing for a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The Saturday attacks bring the number of people killed in strikes against boats led by the U.S. military to at least 168 since the Trump administration began targeting what it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September.
As with most press releases from the U.S. military regarding the dozens of strikes in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, the United States Southern Command stated that they targeted suspected drug traffickers along known smuggling routes.
The military did not provide any evidence that the ship was carrying drugs. Videos posted online showed small boats moving on the water before each being engulfed by a blinding explosion.
The U.S. Southern Command stated that they had requested the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the search and rescue system for the survivor. The Coast Guard confirmed it was coordinating the search and said information would be provided once available.
President Donald Trump declared that the United States is in an “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels and justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs to the United States and deadly overdoses affecting Americans.
However, his administration has provided little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”
Critics have questioned the overall legality and effectiveness of strikes against boats, partly because fentanyl, the origin of many deadly overdoses, is generally transported to the United States overland from Mexico, where it is produced from chemicals imported from China and India.
Context
– The U.S. military conducted strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels, resulting in casualties and attracting criticism for lack of evidence.
Fact Check
– Fentanyl is primarily trafficked to the U.S. overland from Mexico, not by sea.
