US Carries Out Another Deadly Strike on Alleged Drug Trafficking Boat

The attack in the Eastern Pacific raises the death toll from the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug boats to 128 people.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. military has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. Southern Command said the boat was "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes" and was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations." The strike killed two people. This latest attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug boats to 128 people since September 2025.

Why it matters

The boat attacks have sparked controversy, with some experts arguing they are a violation of international laws of armed conflict. The families of two Trinidadian nationals killed in a previous strike have sued the federal government, calling the attack a war crime. The legality and justification for these strikes remain highly debated.

The details

U.S. Southern Command said the boat was "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations." A video linked to the post shows the boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. The strike was announced just hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that "some top cartel drug-traffickers" in the region "have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean." However, Hegseth provided no details or evidence to back up this claim.

  • The boat attacks began in September 2025.
  • The frequency of the strikes has slowed since January 2026, with only one strike that month compared to more than a dozen in December 2025.

The players

U.S. Southern Command

The unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for military operations in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Defense Secretary who claimed that some top cartel drug-traffickers have decided to cease all narcotics operations due to the recent strikes, though he provided no evidence to support this claim.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who justified the boat attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs, though his administration has offered little evidence to support claims of killing "narcoterrorists."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The boat "was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

— U.S. Southern Command

“Some top cartel drug-traffickers" in the region "have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary (Pete Hegseth's personal social media account)

What’s next

The legality and justification for the boat strikes will likely continue to be debated, with the lawsuit filed by the families of the Trinidadian nationals killed in a previous strike expected to test the legal basis for the attacks.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's campaign of deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Eastern Pacific has sparked significant controversy, with experts arguing the attacks violate international laws of armed conflict. The true impact and effectiveness of these strikes remain unclear, as the administration has provided little evidence to support its claims of disrupting drug cartels.