US strikes alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean, third operation this week

October 24, 2025 11:36 PM IST First published on: Oct 24, 2025 at 08:11 PM IST

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced that the US military carried out a strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean. According to Hegseth, the operation was carried out on Tuesday night, and six suspected drug traffickers on board the destroyed vessel were killed. Making the announcement on social media, Hegseth claimed that the vessel was operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan drug cartel, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US. “The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth said. “Six male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters, and was the first strike at night,” he added. Hegseth further warned that those trafficking drugs into the US would be treated the same way the US treated Al-Qaeda. “Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you,” he said. In a 20-second black and white video of the strike that was posted to social media, a small boat can be seen apparently sitting motionless on the water when a long, thin projectile descends on it, resulting in an explosion. The video ends before the explosion dies down enough for the remains of the boat to become visible again. Thursday’s was the 10th strike by the US military on vessels suspected of carrying drugs since September and the third this week. Out of the ten strikes so far, eight were in the Caribbean and two this week were also carried out in the eastern Pacific. With six more deaths on Thursday, the number of alleged drug-traffickers killed in US strikes since September has risen to 46 people, while two people who survived a previous operation have been repatriated. The strike also came hours after the US military flew a pair of supersonic, heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela on Thursday. The flight was just the most recent move in what has been an unusually large military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela that has raised speculation that President Donald Trump could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the US.

Hegseth warned that those trafficking drugs into the US would be treated the same way the US treated Al-Qaeda. (Photo: X/ Pete Hegseth)

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced that the military carried out a strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean. According to Hegseth, the operation was carried out on Tuesday night, and six suspected drug traffickers on board the destroyed vessel were killed.

‘Boat operated by Tren de Aragua’

Making the announcement on social media, Hegseth claimed that the vessel was operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan drug cartel, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US.

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US carried out strike on alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean, third operation this week — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth answers a question from a reporter during a roundtable on criminal cartels in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

“The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth said.

“Six male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters, and was the first strike at night,” he added.

‘Will treat drug traffickers like Al-Qaeda’

Hegseth further warned that those trafficking drugs into the US would be treated the same way the US treated Al-Qaeda.

“Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you,” he said.

In a 20-second black and white video of the strike that was posted to social media, a small boat can be seen apparently sitting motionless on the water when a long, thin projectile descends on it, resulting in an explosion. The video ends before the explosion dies down enough for the remains of the boat to become visible again.

Overnight, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean Sea.

The vessel was known by our… pic.twitter.com/lVlw0FLBv4
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 24, 2025

10 strikes, 43 dead and two survivors

Thursday’s was the 10th strike by the US military on vessels suspected of carrying drugs since September and the third this week.

US steps up pressure on Maduro

The strike also came hours after the US military flew a pair of supersonic, heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela on Thursday. The flight was just the most recent move in what has been an unusually large military build-up in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela that has raised speculation that President Donald Trump could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the US.

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