Micah Jonah, March 9, 2026
The United States Department of Defense says six men were killed after the United States military carried out a strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The strike, which occurred on Sunday, targeted what officials described as a drug-smuggling boat operating along known trafficking routes in the region.
Commander of the United States Southern Command, Francis Donovan, said intelligence indicated the vessel was involved in narcotics trafficking activities.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” Donovan said in a statement posted on social media.
The latest strike brings the reported death toll to at least 157 people since September, when the administration of Donald Trump began targeting vessels suspected of involvement in drug smuggling.
US officials say the campaign is part of a broader effort to combat drug cartels and transnational criminal networks accused of trafficking narcotics into the United States.
Trump has previously stated that the US is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels in Latin America, describing the groups as a major threat to regional security.
During a recent meeting with Latin American leaders, the US president urged countries in the region to cooperate with Washington in taking stronger action against organised crime and drug-trafficking groups.
Last week, the United States and Ecuador carried out joint operations targeting organised crime groups in the South American nation.
However, the military operations have drawn criticism from some lawmakers and legal experts, who have questioned the legality and effectiveness of the strikes.
Critics argue that much of the fentanyl responsible for fatal overdoses in the United States is transported by land from Mexico, where it is produced using chemical precursors imported from China and India.
The debate has intensified following reports that survivors from one of the earlier boat strikes were killed in a subsequent attack, raising concerns among some lawmakers and legal analysts about potential violations of international law.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth said last week that the operation had significantly reduced the number of suspected drug-smuggling vessels operating in the region.
