U.S. Intensifies Anti-Drug Campaign With Strike on Vessel Near Venezuela

                              Released footage of a Caribbean boat seconds before it is destroyed via a missile.

The United States military has carried out another strike against a suspected drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing four people, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The operation, conducted in international waters on Friday, marks at least the fourth such strike in recent weeks as Washington escalates its campaign against narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean.

Hegseth described the targeted boat as a “narco-trafficking vessel” operating along a known smuggling route. He stated that U.S. intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying significant quantities of illegal drugs intended for the American market.

President Donald Trump praised the action, claiming the strike prevented enough narcotics from reaching the United States to “kill 25,000 to 50,000 people.” The administration has recently designated certain Latin American drug cartels as terrorist organizations, a move that officials say provides legal grounds for military action.

The strikes have drawn international attention and raised questions about the legality of using military force against drug gangs. Regional governments, including Venezuela, have condemned the operations as violations of sovereignty, while U.S. officials insist the missions are necessary to protect American lives.

With four deadly strikes since early September, the campaign signals a sharp escalation in U.S. counter-narcotics efforts in the region.