Four suspected drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean were the target of multiple U.S. military strikes, leading to the deaths of 14 individuals. A single survivor has been taken into the custody of Mexican authorities, as confirmed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
These aggressive actions are part of President Donald Trump’s enhanced initiative to combat international drug trafficking. Hegseth stated that intelligence confirmed the targeted vessels were traversing established narco-trafficking routes and were laden with narcotics. The Secretary’s public statement indicated that 14 individuals identified as “narco-terrorists” perished in the strikes, with one survivor accounted for. He emphasized the secure nature of the operations, noting they occurred in international waters and resulted in no casualties among U.S. forces.
In line with maritime safety procedures, U.S. Southern Command initiated search and rescue efforts for the survivor. Mexican Search and Rescue authorities have accepted the case and are now leading the rescue coordination efforts. This incident underscores the ongoing U.S. commitment to interdicting drug flows at sea.
The U.S. military has significantly ramped up its anti-drug operations. Since the beginning of September, a total of 13 maritime operations have been conducted. These have resulted in the destruction of 14 vessels and the elimination of 57 individuals involved in drug smuggling, with three survivors reported across all operations. The geographical scope of this campaign has recently been broadened to the eastern Pacific, following previous interdictions in the Caribbean.
Reports have surfaced regarding a classified legal opinion within the U.S. administration that supports the use of lethal force against drug traffickers by defining them as enemy combatants. This designation allows for strikes to be carried out without requiring prior judicial approval. The Mexican government has been officially notified of the recent strikes, with directives issued for coordination and information gathering concerning the incident.
