US Launches Deadly Strike on Suspected Drug Boat for First Time Since Maduro’s Detention

The United States military confirmed on Friday that it carried out a deadly strike against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two alleged traffickers while one individual survived the operation.

In an official statement shared on X, the US Southern Command said that on January 23, “at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.” The command added that intelligence assessments confirmed the ship was traveling along known narco-trafficking routes and was actively engaged in illegal operations.

According to the same statement, two individuals described as “narco-terrorists” were killed during the strike, while one person survived the attack. The US Coast Guard was immediately notified to launch a search and rescue mission to recover the surviving individual from the scene.

Footage released alongside the announcement shows the targeted vessel cutting through the water moments before it erupts into a massive explosion, sending flames and debris into the air. The video highlights the intensity of the operation and the military’s expanding role in counter-narcotics enforcement.

In recent weeks, the US military has increasingly focused on intercepting and seizing vessels linked to illicit activities, including sanctioned oil tankers tied to Venezuela. This shift follows the Trump administration’s bold operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transport him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

The latest strike represents the first deadly confrontation to be publicly disclosed since US forces apprehended Maduro earlier this month, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s regional security strategy.

The operation was conducted under Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched last year to disrupt transnational criminal organizations. As part of this effort, US Marines have intensified patrols and strikes against ships suspected of transporting narcotics across the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Open-source assessments suggest that since September, US military actions targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels have resulted in the deaths of more than 100 alleged traffickers. However, critics continue to raise concerns over targeting accuracy, escalation risks, and the potential human cost of such operations.