In a significant escalation of its counter-narcotics operations, the United States military has confirmed conducting a lethal strike against a suspected drug trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This operation, executed on Friday, represents the first such action since the high-profile raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
According to U.S. Southern Command’s official statement released through social media channels, the targeted boat was actively engaged in narco-trafficking operations. The military operation resulted in two fatalities with one individual surviving the attack. Search and rescue procedures were immediately initiated for the survivor through coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Accompanying visual evidence depicts a maritime vessel navigating through open waters before being engulfed in explosive flames. This development occurs amid intensified U.S. military focus on intercepting sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela, following the Trump administration’s audacious operation to apprehend President Maduro and transfer him to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.
The previous maritime strikes occurred in late December when military forces targeted five alleged drug-smuggling boats over a 48-hour period, resulting in eight casualties with numerous individuals abandoning vessels. The Coast Guard subsequently suspended its search operations days after these engagements.
President Donald Trump has consistently defended these military operations, asserting their critical effectiveness in disrupting narcotics transportation routes through Caribbean and eastern Pacific corridors. During recent remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump claimed unprecedented success, stating: “We’ve stopped — virtually stopped almost 100% of all drugs coming in by water.”
Meanwhile, Maduro had previously characterized U.S. military actions as politically motivated attempts to remove him from power, allegations that gained renewed attention following the January 3rd large-scale strike in Caracas that resulted in his capture and extradition to the United States.