Pentagon Reports Third Narco-Trafficking Strike This Month in Eastern Pacific

Clear Facts

• U.S. Southern Command conducted a strike on a vessel allegedly operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in the Eastern Pacific, killing three individuals
• This marks the 55th strike since Operation Southern Spear began in early September, bringing total fatalities to at least 186
• Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling known narco-trafficking routes, according to military officials

The Pentagon announced Sunday that U.S. forces conducted another lethal strike against a vessel allegedly carrying suspected narco-traffickers in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in three deaths on board.

The U.S. Southern Command said it executed a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations” under the direction of Gen. Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps, who leads the Southern Command.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the Southern Command stated in a press release.

Three men aboard the vessel were killed in the operation. No U.S. forces sustained injuries or fatalities during the strike, according to the Southern Command.

This represents the 55th strike since the United States began targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific in early September as part of Operation Southern Spear. The latest action brings the death toll in the Trump administration’s campaign against suspected drug smuggling operations to at least 186 individuals.

The Pentagon has declined to release the identities of those killed in the strikes or provide public evidence of narcotics found aboard the targeted vessels.

Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operation’s results.

“Going on offense with Operation Southern Spear has restored deterrence against the narco-terrorist cartels that profited from poisoning Americans,” Hegseth said.

The administration has faced scrutiny from both Democrats and some Republicans regarding the strikes. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has raised concerns about the killing of individuals without due process and the potential for civilian casualties.

“I look at my colleagues who say they’re pro-life, and they value God’s inspiration in life, but they don’t give a s‑‑- about these people in the boats,” Paul said in January.

“Are they terrible people in the boats? I don’t know. They’re probably poor people in Venezuela and Colombia.”

The Kentucky senator previously cited Coast Guard statistics indicating that a significant percentage of boats boarded on suspicion of drug trafficking turn out to be innocent of any wrongdoing.

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