US Conducts Attack on Smuggler Boat in Caribbean Sea, Three Killed

US armed forces have once again struck a small vessel in the Caribbean Sea, leading to the deaths of three men. According to an official statement from SOUTHCOM, intelligence confirmed the boat's presence on known drug trafficking routes and its direct involvement in smuggling operations. The Department of Defense released a video on social media showing the explosion and fire on the vessel immediately after the attack. The Pentagon emphasizes that the destroyed boat was operated by terrorist-like organizations. Since the operation began in September 2025, the United States has already conducted over 40 confirmed attacks on alleged smuggling boats. This strategy, strongly supported by the Donald Trump administration, raises serious legal and ethical controversies. Critics point to the lack of presentation of evidence of the presence of drugs on board the destroyed vessels and the fact that these operations constitute extrajudicial executions. The American War on Drugs was officially launched by President Richard Nixon in 1971, but the militarization of actions in international waters against cartels has intensified significantly in recent decades, leading to numerous disputes over sovereignty and human rights. The total death toll of this campaign is approaching 150 people, reaching 148 killed according to recent reports. Southern Command argues that the attacks are necessary to stem the flow of illegal substances into the US, which is treated as a national security issue. Meanwhile, international observers and lawyers warn against the precedent of treating smuggling as narco-terrorism, which allows for the use of military force instead of standard police and judicial procedures. „Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” — SOUTHCOM