Washington, June 5, (dpa/GNA) – Repeated US military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, have killed 207 people since autumn 2025, the military’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) told dpa.
SOUTHCOM said US forces had carried out 63 attacks as of Thursday, destroying 64 vessels, suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. Of the 207 reported deaths, 190 were suspected drug smugglers killed during the strikes, SOUTHCOM said.
Two bodies were later recovered from the water during search operations, while the search for 15 other suspected smugglers was eventually called off.
The operations have drawn criticism from legal experts and rights advocates, who question whether the deadly attacks in international waters are permissible under international law.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has targeted boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since September, saying the operations are aimed at curbing international drug trafficking. The United States has long struggled with illegal drug use and overdose deaths.
Trump has repeatedly blamed foreign drug trafficking networks for fuelling the crisis, while his administration has described the trade as “narco-terrorism.”
GNA