US Targeted Drug Traffickers in Recent Pacific Strike

Fri Oct 24 2025 22:24:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The US Pentagon confirms a strike on a drug-laden vessel in the Pacific Ocean, marking a significant counter-narcotics operation amidst rising tensions with Colombia.

In a recent operation, US forces conducted an airstrike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of two individuals on board. This operation is part of a larger effort to combat drug-related activities in the region, with the Pentagon emphasizing that these actions are necessary to address the escalating threats posed by drug cartels. The strike is notable as it represents the first US action in the Pacific against drug boats since September.

The Pentagon has confirmed that US forces have struck another vessel alleged to be carrying drugs, this time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, two people on board the vessel were killed, with no US forces harmed in the operation.

The targeted boat was known to US intelligence and was operating along a recognized trafficking route in international waters. This strike is significant as it marks the first US military action in the Pacific against suspected drug boats since September, contributing to a total of eight strikes against alleged drug vessels in recent months.

Video footage of the incident shows the blue speedboat moving through the water before being hit by US air ordinance. Hegseth stated that Narco-terrorists intending to bring poison to our shores will find no safe harbor anywhere in our hemisphere,” drawing parallels between drug traffickers and terrorists.

The strikes are part of a larger military effort, involving around 10,000 US troops and various aircraft and ships focused on counter-narcotics operations in response to the rising influence of drug trafficking organizations. Recent engagements indicate that at least 36 individuals have been killed in American strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Additionally, these military actions coincide with escalating tensions between the US and Colombia, particularly with President Gustavo Petro's government. President Trump has criticized Petro as encouraging drug production, hinting at the cessation of financial support to Colombia, traditionally one of the US's closest allies in Latin America.