WASHINGTON — In a significant maritime operation, United States military forces conducted targeted strikes against three vessels navigating international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals alleged to be involved in narcotics trafficking.
The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) publicly detailed the operation through an official statement on the social media platform X. The command asserted that actionable intelligence had confirmed the vessels were actively transiting along routes notoriously used for illicit drug smuggling. The military intervention was characterized as a direct response to this illegal activity.
“Our forces executed these strikes following confirmed intelligence that the vessels were operating on known narco-trafficking corridors and were engaged in trafficking activities,” the command’s statement read. The operation underscores the ongoing and intensified efforts by the US military to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations that utilize maritime routes for drug distribution.
This incident highlights the complex and often aggressive measures employed by international powers to combat the global drug trade in international waters, where jurisdictional boundaries can be ambiguous. The decision to employ lethal force indicates the high priority placed on interdicting narcotics shipments deemed a threat to regional security and stability. The statement did not specify the nationalities of the vessels or the deceased individuals, nor did it elaborate on the specific type of military assets used in the operation.