2 Killed In Latest US Military Strike On Alleged Drug-Smuggling Boat In Pacific Ocean

Two people were killed, and one survived after the US military carried out a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, US Southern Command said on Monday.

The military said the operation took place on 9 February and was carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of Southern Command commander General Francis L. Donovan.

According to the US military, intelligence showed that the vessel was travelling along known drug trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and was involved in narcotics smuggling.

After the strike, US Southern Command said it immediately informed the US Coast Guard to begin search and rescue efforts for the survivor.

The Coast Guard later said Ecuador’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was leading the rescue operation, with technical support from the United States.

The latest strike is part of a campaign launched in early September under the administration of President Donald Trump, targeting boats accused of drug smuggling.

The operations began in the Caribbean and later expanded into the eastern Pacific. Since the campaign started, at least 130 people have been killed in 38 reported strikes.

US officials have described the targeted vessels as being operated by individuals they call “narco-terrorists”, many of whom are alleged to be linked to Venezuela.

However, the administration has not publicly released detailed evidence proving that the boats were involved in drug trafficking. This has led to questions about the legal basis for the strikes.

Last month, the families of two Trinidadian men who were killed in an October strike filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the US government, claiming the action was unlawful.

On Feb. 9, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking… pic.twitter.com/fa5vppjcCy

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) February 10, 2026

The strike in the eastern Pacific is the third known attack since a recent US raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration has presented these operations as part of efforts to disrupt criminal networks and increase pressure on Venezuela.

At the same time, the US has stepped up enforcement against Venezuelan oil exports.

The administration has previously seized seven oil tankers and recently boarded a sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea.

US officials have described these actions as part of an “oil quarantine” aimed at enforcing sanctions on Venezuelan crude.

Washington has accused Venezuela of using a “shadow fleet” of falsely flagged tankers to move oil in violation of sanctions.

US officials said several such vessels left Venezuelan waters earlier this year following the operation to capture Maduro.

Meanwhile, US Southern Command confirmed that another alleged drug-smuggling vessel was struck in the eastern Pacific last week, killing two more people. Video footage released by the command showed the boat on fire after the strike.

References: firstpost, independent

Source: Maritime Shipping News