USA Military Strikes Drug Trafficking Boat in Eastern Pacific, 2 Dead

MIAMI / WASHINGTON / NEW DELHI: The USA military carried out a lethal strike Monday against a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing two people described as “narco-terrorists” and leaving one survivor, officials said.

The operation, directed by USA Southern Command commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, was executed by Joint Task Force Southern Spear as part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign targeting vessels linked to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations and narcotics trafficking.

US Southern Command said intelligence confirmed the vessel was operating along “known narco-trafficking routes” and “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” Officials said no U.S. personnel were harmed.

“Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike,” SOUTHCOM said in a press release. The command immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate search-and-rescue procedures for the survivor.

A short video released by SOUTHCOM shows a fast-moving boat being struck, resulting in explosions and fire. The footage, captured from overhead sensors, was posted on SOUTHCOM’s website and social media channels.

The strike is the second this month, following a similar action on Feb. 5, and is part of an intensified campaign that began in September 2025. According to tracking by CBS News and other outlets, approximately 38–39 such strikes have been carried out under the operation, resulting in at least 130 deaths.

Critics have raised concerns about the transparency of the strikes, the legal justification for lethal action in international waters, and potential risks to innocent mariners. Al Jazeera reported that evidence tying the vessel to narcotics or terrorist groups has not been publicly released.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s search for the survivor remains active. SOUTHCOM has not released further details about the vessel’s origin, the identities of those on board, or any recovered evidence.