US Military Sinks Drug Boat In Pacific As Death Toll From Strikes Climbs

 

 

 

The U.S. military has blown up another alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four men described as “narco-terrorists” and escalating a lethal maritime campaign already under intense scrutiny. U.S. Southern Command said the strike occurred Thursday in international waters against a boat operated by a designated terrorist group, though it declined to name which organization. The vessel was travelling along a known trafficking corridor and carrying illegal drugs, according to the Pentagon.

 

A 21-second military video shows the craft hit by munitions before erupting into flames—an increasingly familiar scene since early September, when President Donald Trump authorised an aggressive new phase of naval and special-operations interdictions. Since then, U.S. forces have carried out more than 20 strikes across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing at least 87 suspected traffickers.

 

The latest incident unfolded as Navy Adm. Frank Bradley, head of Joint Special Operations Command, briefed lawmakers about the controversial 2 September operation in the Caribbean that left 11 people dead. Bradley used the closed-door session to deny reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered troops to “kill everybody” on board the earlier vessel before the mission began. Lawmakers from both parties are now demanding fuller transparency about the rules of engagement, target selection and intelligence used to justify lethal maritime strikes.

 

The September mission involved four separate attacks—two aimed at killing those on board and two at sinking the craft—raising alarm among some members of Congress who say the administration has not adequately explained the legal basis for such escalatory action. Thursday’s Pacific strike is the first since mid-November, when U.S. forces sank another suspected drug boat, killing three men.

 

The Trump administration maintains that these operations are dismantling a hybrid narcotics-terror network and preventing drugs from reaching the United States. Critics argue the campaign risks blurring legal boundaries, inflaming regional tensions, and relying on opaque intelligence claims that the public cannot verify.

 

For now, the administration shows no sign of slowing the tempo of strikes—nor answering the mounting questions swirling around them.

 

Key Takeaways

• U.S. forces sank another alleged drug-smuggling boat, killing four men.

• Adm. Bradley denies claims Hegseth ordered a “kill everybody” directive in a previous strike.

• Congress is pressing the Trump administration for clarity on legality, intelligence and escalation of lethal maritime operations.

 

SOURCE: THE HILL

Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific. All for war on Venezuela, a country which has not impacted the USA in any manner

6 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific. All for war on Venezuela, a country which has not impacted the USA in any manner

 

VE is a major transit hub for illegal drugs, some of which make it to the USA, kills and ruins lives.  That's enough impact to kill all who support that illegal activity.

 

Deal death & misery, receive death & misery.   Works for me, and tax $$$ well spent.

 

The problem with these extrajudicial attacks is if you have a business or romantic rival, suddenly they conveniently become 'drug dealers', or that's what you tell the DEA.

Yawn. Obviously not fishing, crabbing boats -- high speed, open cockpit, with packages -- what could they possibly be?. Probably enough intelligence from their port of departure to nail their true purpose. Hey, if a few innocents are collateral damage -- best they consider the company they keep (kept). 

 

Anyway, sometimes the end does justify the means. Thaksin did this early in his career against drug runners. I never had a problem with that. Trump's methods are akin of this -- do what it takes to correct a serious problem -- and ignore the do gooders. 

3 hours ago, Real Name Hidden said:

The problem with these extrajudicial attacks is if you have a business or romantic rival, suddenly they conveniently become 'drug dealers'

-- in open cockpit speedboats?

2 hours ago, JimGant said:

Yawn. Obviously not fishing, crabbing boats -- high speed, open cockpit, with packages -- what could they possibly be?. Probably enough intelligence from their port of departure to nail their true purpose. Hey, if a few innocents are collateral damage -- best they consider the company they keep (kept). 

 

Anyway, sometimes the end does justify the means. Thaksin did this early in his career against drug runners. I never had a problem with that. Trump's methods are akin of this -- do what it takes to correct a serious problem -- and ignore the do gooders. 

 

Collateral damage?  You sound like Timothy McVeigh.

So nothing more to report from Gaza so let's shift and make a fuss about Trump no matter where we can ? Strange, when all the highly doubtful interrogation techniques were being used in Guantanamo, or other CIA blackhouses in Europe,  nobody piped a word. 

17 hours ago, JimGant said:

Anyway, sometimes the end does justify the means. Thaksin did this early in his career against drug runners. I never had a problem with that. Trump's methods are akin of this -- do what it takes to correct a serious problem -- and ignore the do gooders. 

Nah, the end never justifies the means, even with Hitler. Surely you know that Thaksin's orders enabled police to finish gambling debts, affairs, rivalry, and competition. It was a free-for-all in which many innocents died. Same in Duterte's Philippines.

 

Everybody should use the drugs they want and stop this needless expence and morals playing.

14 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

So nothing more to report from Gaza so let's shift and make a fuss about Trump no matter where we can ? Strange, when all the highly doubtful interrogation techniques were being used in Guantanamo, or other CIA blackhouses in Europe,  nobody piped a word. 

Entirely untrue. I was an advisor to Wikileaks and spoke out against all these travesties of justice.

 

 

Ah...from sea to shining sea, from the river to the shore.

If they can film them, they can track and capture them. We still have not seen any drugs, just bodies.

On 12/5/2025 at 3:07 PM, Real Name Hidden said:

The problem with these extrajudicial attacks is if you have a business or romantic rival, suddenly they conveniently become 'drug dealers', or that's what you tell the DEA.

18th-century France's 'Lettre de Cachet ' was just like that, too. Needed to get rid of someone quickly? Pay a few francs, get a Letter de Chachet signed against them, and it was off to Mme. Guillotine, or if you were lucky, the Bastille. That, of course, led to their Revolution and a complete change of government.
Hmmm.....

 

On 12/5/2025 at 6:40 PM, JimGant said:

-- in open cockpit speedboats?

Quite so, big difference between a fishing boat and narco speedboat!

On 12/6/2025 at 6:32 AM, unblocktheplanet said:

Entirely untrue. I was an advisor to Wikileaks and spoke out against all these travesties of justice.

wow..another SpecOps-covert-ex-Seal "advisor"...impressive Sir. Next...

Really alarming news for all the big tech billionnaires,  CEO's and top level heads of state or parliament members in many countries in Europe, America or Asia not to forget all the showbiz celebrities or the social network wanna-be influencers or all the other socialistes and so on........the supply of their coke will diminish and prices will soar. Oh my God...😧

On 12/8/2025 at 2:59 PM, mikeymike100 said:

Quite so, big difference between a fishing boat and narco speedboat!

IF there were actual US aerial photos of the boats before they were blown to smithereens, we could decide for ourselves, couldn't we.

 

There are a lot of commercial fishing boats like example number two. But there are an awful lot of open commercial boats, too, with twin engines for safety. I lived on the coast in BC Canada and knew a lot of fishers.

 

Until we see, we're in no position to decide whether the US is just posturing, bullying and murdering.

 

One thing I do know: The US has no business killing people in int'l waters. This is all for knee-jerk votes from the brainless. Illegal orders, court-martial. Murder charges for those that gave the orders.

 

A few boats sunk, if really carrying coke, will impact US nose-candy completely not-at-all.

13 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

wow..another SpecOps-covert-ex-Seal "advisor"...impressive Sir. Next...

Nothing 'covert' about my life. I was one of only two WL advisors who put their names out there.

33 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

IF there were actual US aerial photos of the boats before they were blown to smithereens, we could decide for ourselves, couldn't we.

 

There are a lot of commercial fishing boats like example number two. But there are an awful lot of open commercial boats, too, with twin engines for safety. I lived on the coast in BC Canada and knew a lot of fishers.

 

Until we see, we're in no position to decide whether the US is just posturing, bullying and murdering.

 

One thing I do know: The US has no business killing people in int'l waters. This is all for knee-jerk votes from the brainless. Illegal orders, court-martial. Murder charges for those that gave the orders.

 

A few boats sunk, if really carrying coke, will impact US nose-candy completely not-at-all.

 

“No business in international waters”?
Err no....... Tren de Aragua is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. FTO = lawful target anywhere on the planet, high seas included. Same rules we’ve used on al-Qaeda for 24 years

 

“Illegal orders, murder, court-martial”?
Keep dreaming. The admiral followed a pre-approved target package under the 2001 AUMF. Survivors were still trying to re-float the boat and continue the mission. That’s combatants, not helpless fishermen.

 

“A few boats won’t dent the drug flow”?
Tell that to the 61 dead TdA members and the 40 % spike in fentanyl seizures since the strikes started. It’s working.This isn’t murder for votes.
It’s a superpower finally treating narco-terrorists like the terrorists they are.!

On 12/5/2025 at 2:17 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific. All for war on Venezuela, a country which has not impacted the USA in any manner

You are wrong.

So Schumer & dems don't like blowing up drug boats. Then I guess he shouldn't have co-sponsored the bill that allows it.

Not many folks against it, when voted on ...

... House of Representatives: Passed 392 to 16.

... Senate: Passed 97 to 2. 

... "Chuck Schumer was a co-sponsor of the bill, Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, in which the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act of 1986 (MDLEA) was incorporated as a subtitle. 

The primary sponsor of the overarching Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 (H.R. 5484), which was eventually enacted as Public Law No. 99-570, was Representative James C. Wright Jr. (D-TX). 

The "Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Prosecution Improvements Act of 1986" was specifically Subtitle C of Title III of the larger Act. This act made it unlawful for any person on a U.S. vessel, or a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction, to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance." ...

On 12/5/2025 at 2:17 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific. All for war on Venezuela, a country which has not impacted the USA in any manner

Well, they did dare to nationalise their oil industry under Chavez, which Maduro has yet to reverse.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

his act made it unlawful for any person on a U.S. vessel, or a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction, to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance." ...

How does that apply to US strikes on non US citizens in International waters?

Especially how does it apply when the specific Nationalities of the crew and contents of the vessels are not known?

11 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

How does that apply to US strikes on non US citizens in International waters?

Especially how does it apply when the specific Nationalities of the crew and contents of the vessels are not known?

Do a google and you'll find also within international law per UN.

I have better things to do that explain thing ( my posts ) to people every time I post.

I'm simply adding some context to those that actually read the OP, and pointing out those wanting an explanation, their party and even themselves, may be some of the ones, that voted for the law.

... "some members of Congress who say the administration has not adequately explained the legal basis for such escalatory action" ...

Quite a bit of select memory, about their party, and themselves, when they were part of the process of passing the law.

Possibly even co-sponsoring the law. NO, I'm not going to cross reference the folks below with the co-sponsors of said law.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/senate-bill/2878/cosponsors

OK, I was curious, and 7 or the 10 names above, did co-sponsor the bill

You have not answered either of my two questions!

Please do so without providing "fobbing off" responses!

15 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I'm simply adding some context to those that actually read the OP

The context you added above does not add any meaningful context to the illegal US actions or answer my two questions!

37 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

How does that apply to US strikes on non US citizens in International waters?

They are designated terrorist, it’s open season on them attempting to freerange their criminal activity into the US.

38 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Especially how does it apply when the specific Nationalities of the crew and contents of the vessels are not known?

They know exactly where they’re coming from and where they’re heading.

3 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

The context you added above does not add any meaningful context to the illegal US actions or answer my two questions!

The actions of the US military isn’t illegal, you’re just annoyed by it. Please distinguish.

On 12/5/2025 at 2:27 PM, KhunLA said:

 

VE is a major transit hub for illegal drugs, some of which make it to the USA, kills and ruins lives.  That's enough impact to kill all who support that illegal activity.

 

Deal death & misery, receive death & misery.   Works for me, and tax $$$ well spent.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

So Schumer & dems don't like blowing up drug boats. Then I guess he shouldn't have co-sponsored the bill that allows it.

Not many folks against it, when voted on ...

... House of Representatives: Passed 392 to 16.

... Senate: Passed 97 to 2. 

... "Chuck Schumer was a co-sponsor of the bill, Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, in which the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act of 1986 (MDLEA) was incorporated as a subtitle. 

The primary sponsor of the overarching Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 (H.R. 5484), which was eventually enacted as Public Law No. 99-570, was Representative James C. Wright Jr. (D-TX). 

The "Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Prosecution Improvements Act of 1986" was specifically Subtitle C of Title III of the larger Act. This act made it unlawful for any person on a U.S. vessel, or a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction, to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance." ...

The radical left in all its glory ,The irony plays on how bipartisan tough on crime consensus from that era contrasts with today's sympathetic view towards the narco terror trade and stopping its feeding grounds. I don't recognize the dem party or the few libertarians who oppose stopping narco terrorism.