In the latest development, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that three individuals lost their lives in the eighth strike conducted by the US military on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This operation, authorized under President Donald Trump’s renewed anti-narcotics campaign, represents the initial known Pacific strike, with previous actions primarily concentrated in the Caribbean.
Hegseth shared details of the operation, stating, “Under President Trump’s directive, the Department of Defense executed a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization. Once again, the individuals on board, who are now deceased, were involved in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.”
A video footage released showcased a small boat loaded with packages moving across the water surface before being engulfed in flames following the strike. US officials confirmed the incident occurred in international waters and reassured that no American personnel suffered any harm.
This targeted vessel, as per intelligence reports, was engaged in illegal narcotics trafficking while navigating a recognized route associated with narco-trafficking activities. The Defense Secretary emphasized, “Our intelligence identified the vessel’s involvement in illicit narcotics smuggling, its route along a known narco-trafficking path, and the presence of narcotics onboard. The strike, executed in international waters, resulted in the elimination of three male narco-terrorists, with no harm to US forces.”
Hegseth drew parallels between combating drug cartels and the nation’s battle against terrorism, stating, “Just as Al Qaeda posed a threat to our homeland, these cartels pose a threat to our borders and citizens. There will be no sanctuary or pardon, only accountability.”
Since the initiation of the military offensive earlier this year by President Trump, approximately 34 individuals have been killed in operations targeting suspected narco vessels. The President justifies these actions by asserting the US is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, labeling them as unlawful combatants, a legal stance reminiscent of the approach adopted during the Bush administration’s war on terrorism.
The majority of drug overdose fatalities in the US are attributed to fentanyl, primarily entering the country via land routes from Mexico. While Venezuela plays a crucial role as a narcotics transit point, an estimated 75% of Colombia’s cocaine is smuggled through the eastern Pacific Ocean rather than the Caribbean.