US Attacks on Alleged Drug Boats Disrupt Traffickers

Pentagon chief says campaign has made it hard to find targets to sink.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The US has been aggressively targeting and destroying boats allegedly used for drug trafficking from South America, with the Pentagon claiming the campaign has been so successful that it's now difficult to find vessels to attack. However, the legality of these operations has been widely debated, with critics arguing they amount to extrajudicial killings.

Why it matters

The US government's escalating campaign against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific has raised concerns about the use of lethal force against civilians and the potential violation of international law. The high number of casualties has also sparked debate over the effectiveness and ethics of this military approach to combating the drug trade.

The details

According to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, the US began targeting these alleged smuggling speedboats in early September 2026 and has since destroyed dozens of them, resulting in at least 150 people killed. Hegseth claimed the attacks have been so successful that the US has gone weeks without finding any boats to sink. However, the US has provided little definitive evidence that the vessels it targets are actually involved in drug trafficking, leading to criticism that the strikes amount to extrajudicial killings of civilians.

  • The US began targeting alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific in early September 2026.
  • Last month, the US went a few weeks without targeting a single boat, according to Hegseth.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The Pentagon chief who spoke about the US campaign against alleged drug boats.

Donald Trump

The US president whose administration insists it is effectively at war with "narco-terrorists" in Latin America.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Last month, we went a few weeks without targeting a single boat. Why? Well, because we couldn't find a whole lot of boats to sink.”

— Pete Hegseth, Pentagon chief

“And that's the whole point, is to establish deterrence from narco-terrorists who have been able to traffic almost unfettered.”

— Pete Hegseth, Pentagon chief

The takeaway

The US government's aggressive campaign against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific has raised serious concerns about the use of lethal force, the potential violation of international law, and the overall effectiveness of this military approach to combating the drug trade.