Trump announces third fatal US strike on drug-smuggling vessel

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage en route to poison Americans,” Trump wrote. He also shared a video showing the vessel speeding through the waters before being hit by missiles from above, resulting in an explosion.

White House communications director Steven Cheung added on X, “It was at this moment, the narcoterrorists knew they screwed up,” sharing the same video.

This strike follows two similar actions in recent weeks. On Monday, the US military reportedly took down another boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three aboard. Earlier, on September 2, a speedboat said to be operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, listed by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation, was targeted, resulting in 11 deaths.

The Trump administration has defended the strikes as necessary to stop the flow of drugs into the United States.

However, several senators, human rights groups, and some Republican and Democratic lawmakers have questioned the legality of using military force in these operations, AP reported. Critics argue the strikes may overstep executive authority by employing the military for law enforcement purposes.

Details about how the military verified the vessels’ cargo and passengers’ alleged gang affiliations remain unclear. According to AP, National security officials told Congress that the first boat was fired upon multiple times after it appeared to change course toward shore.

The operations come amid a buildup of US maritime forces in the Caribbean, signalling a new, aggressive approach to counter drug trafficking in the region.

In Venezuela, speculation has grown over whether these strikes are part of a broader plan to pressure or topple President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has dismissed the US videos released by Trump as artificial intelligence fabrications and questioned the ability of such vessels to operate in open waters. He also accused the US of using drug trafficking as a pretext for military intimidation and potential regime change.

(With inputs from AP)