US strikes suspected drug boat in Pacific, three killed
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- US forces killed three people in the Pacific after striking a boat suspected of drug trafficking.
- The operation is part of a six-month campaign targeting maritime smuggling networks, raising legal and human rights concerns.
The US military announced that three people were killed Friday in a strike targeting a boat in the eastern Pacific suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. The operation is part of a broader campaign that has been ongoing for nearly six months against maritime smuggling networks.
Read more: Two killed in latest US strike on alleged drug boat in Pacific: military
Targeting drug trafficking at sea
In a post on X, the US military said the boat “was engaged in drug trafficking operations,” praising the success of US forces in targeting vessels believed to be active in smuggling.
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Since September, Washington has carried out multiple strikes against boats suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in over 150 deaths and the destruction of dozens of vessels in the region, according to US authorities.
Controversy and legal concerns
The Trump administration has framed the operations as part of a “war on drug terrorists” operating in Latin America. However, the strikes have drawn legal scrutiny, as critics point to the lack of publicly disclosed evidence confirming the involvement of targeted boats in illicit trafficking.
Experts warn that the operations risk escalating tensions in international waters and may raise questions under maritime law regarding the use of lethal force against vessels suspected—but not proven—of criminal activity.
