In a recent escalation of its counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, the United States military conducted a strike on a semi-submersible vessel allegedly involved in drug smuggling. The attack resulted in the deaths of two individuals and the capture of two survivors: an Ecuadorian national, Andrés Fernando Tufiño, and a Colombian citizen, Jeison Obando Pérez. US President Donald Trump announced that the survivors would be repatriated to their respective countries for detention and prosecution. However, Ecuador’s Attorney General’s office stated that Tufiño could not be detained due to a lack of evidence of any crime under Ecuadorian law. This incident marks the first time survivors have been reported in the US’s ongoing Caribbean operations, which have claimed at least 32 lives since September. Experts have raised concerns about the legality of these strikes, arguing they may violate international law. Trump defended the actions, asserting that the vessel was a drug-carrying submarine transporting fentanyl and other narcotics. He also accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking group, the Cartel of the Suns, which Maduro has denied. Meanwhile, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro criticized the US for conducting a strike in Colombian territorial waters, calling it an act of murder. The US deployment, involving 10,000 troops and numerous military assets, has primarily targeted vessels leaving Venezuela. The operation has drawn mixed reactions, with Trinidad and Tobago expressing support for the US’s efforts to combat transnational crime, while other nations question its legality and human cost.