Previous deadly attacks have targeted suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea
The United States has killed five people in attacks on two suspected drug trafficking ships in the Pacific Ocean, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegset. Previous US operations, which Washington says target illicit narcotics trafficking, have focused on the Caribbean Sea off Venezuela.
The attacks, carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, targeted ships “involved in illicit drug trafficking” and were ordered by President Donald Trump, Hegseth said on X on Wednesday. He added that “The strikes will continue” until everything “narcoterrorists” they are eliminated.
Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, the War Department conducted a lethal kinetic attack against a ship operated by a designated terrorist organization conducting drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. Our intelligence knew the ship was… pic.twitter.com/BayDhUZ4Ac
– Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 22, 2025
According to Politico, an attack took place on Tuesday that killed two people. “somewhere off the western coast of Colombia”, with Washington pointing “a new country of origin” of alleged drug flows. The Trump administration did not provide details to support its claims that the people killed were involved in narcotics trafficking, the outlet noted.
Washington has accused both Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of allowing or turning a blind eye to drug trafficking through their territories, accusations both leaders have strongly denied.
Following similar attacks in the Caribbean earlier this month, Petro condemned the raids as “an aggression against all of Latin America and the Caribbean” stating that one of the attacked ships was carrying Colombian citizens. He argued that Washington’s campaign had less to do with fighting drugs and more to do with asserting control over the region’s natural resources.
Petro has had a long dispute with Trump, whom he accused of violating human rights during his crackdown on illegal immigrants. Last month, the United States revoked Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey Trump’s orders.
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Meanwhile, Venezuelan officials say the attacks are part of a broader U.S. effort to overthrow Maduro, a position echoed by Russia. Moscow’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, earlier this month accused Washington of planning a coup in Venezuela under the pretext of an anti-drug campaign.
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