The US military acknowledged that it conducted the internal vessel strike in the eastern Pacific. This decision unfortunately resulted in the death of two people. This action is merely the latest in a concentrated campaign to crack down on drug trafficking in the region. Since the start of September, the military has ramped up operations to sink boats thought to be smuggling narcotics.
The US Southern Command stated that US intelligence indicated the targeted vessel was operating on established narco-trafficking routes. It was deeply entrenched in the drug-supplying establishment. This latest strike consolidates a continuous series of more than 30 operations of the same kind. These have been happening since early September. The military’s violent approach to resistance has resulted in over 300 deaths. According to the National Immigration Law Center, more than 100 people have died in these raids since the Trump administration started this unfortunate expansion.
On Friday, the US military issued a statement shedding new light on Friday’s strike. They went on the record to stress their commitment to fighting drug trafficking that endangers national security. The military’s priority is stopping and seizing vessels that smuggle drugs. This step helps further their objective of managing the international flow of Venezuelan oil byproducts, particularly after the assassination of Nicolás Maduro in April 2020.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” – US Southern Command
The military’s actions are connected to a broader U.S. strategy involving the increasingly reckless seizure of sanctioned oil tankers tied to Venezuela. Just earlier this month, President Trump directed the military to arrest Maduro, doubling down on the US’s interventionist approach to the region. In addition, a recent agreement with Venezuela’s interim leaders allows the US to import up to 50 million barrels of crude oil, furthering its involvement in controlling Venezuelan oil resources.
The last series of boat strikes occurred in late December when the US military reported striking five vessels over two days, resulting in eight fatalities. These operations reflect a sustained effort to tackle drug trafficking and its associated violence, as well as to disrupt Venezuela’s influence over oil production and distribution.