In an unprecedented legal challenge, the family of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza has submitted the first formal petition against U.S. military drug interdiction operations to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The filing alleges Carranza’s death during a September 15th maritime strike constitutes an extrajudicial killing that violated international human rights conventions.
The case emerges amid escalating U.S. military operations in the Caribbean basin, where over 80 individuals have been killed since early September under the Trump administration’s enhanced counter-narcotics campaign. While U.S. officials maintain targeted vessels were operated by terrorist organizations transporting narcotics, the administration has provided minimal details about casualties and no visual evidence supporting claims that Carranza’s boat contained drugs.
Legal representative Daniel Kovalik stated the family seeks compensation for their primary breadwinner’s death while acknowledging the non-binding nature of any commission recommendations. The attorney revealed the family has received threats from right-wing paramilitaries since publicly challenging the official narrative, creating security concerns that complicate pursuing justice through Colombian domestic channels.
The petition gains significance amid reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued verbal orders to ‘kill everybody’ on targeted vessels, with subsequent strikes eliminating survivors of initial attacks. President Trump’s recent statements suggesting expanded land-based operations in multiple countries, including Colombia, have intensified regional apprehensions about the legal and humanitarian implications of these military actions.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has condemned the maritime operations as ‘murders,’ highlighting diplomatic tensions between the traditional allies. The case represents a critical test of accountability mechanisms for U.S. military actions in the region, with potential implications for future counter-narcotics strategies and international human rights enforcement.