The United States military has struck a suspected drug boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people during the anti-drug operation.
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in a statement on April 14, confirmed that it destroyed the vessel, in which “four male narco-terrorists were killed.”
According to the statement, U.S. forces carried out the strike on Tuesday at the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted the operation against a vessel operated by designated terrorist organizations.
Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco‑trafficking routes and engaged in trafficking operations.
“On April 14, 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 routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Four male narco-terrorists were killed during this action.”
No U.S. forces were harmed. The Eastern Pacific operation comes after the Pentagon had confirmed that the United States has destroyed at least 50 drug boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean since September 2025.
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Last month, SOUTHCOM announced a strike on a narco‑terrorist network in Ecuador. The March 6 operation was conducted alongside Ecuadorian forces. Gen. Donovan described the action as a “strategic success for all nations in the Western Hemisphere committed to disrupting and defeating narcoterrorism.”
“The United States remains steadfast in supporting nations that stand against narcoterrorism. Together, we will dismantle trafficking and corruption networks, hold these organizations accountable, and restore peace through strength,” the Pentagon said.
Fight against drug smuggling in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific
In February 2026, the SOUTHCOM Commander also oversaw a strike on another suspected drug boat after confirming that it was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean, and it was previously involved in narco-trafficking operations.
“On February 13, 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 routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” read part of the statement.
Francis also confirmed the death of the three suspected narco-terrorists, adding that no U.S. military forces had been harmed during the operation.
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Earlier that month, SOUTHCOM had struck a vessel also in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people and leaving one survivor.
In February, a deadly confrontation saw four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat killed by Cuban authorities in Caribbean waters.
Cuban officials on February 25 reported that their border forces opened fire on a vessel that had allegedly entered Cuban territorial waters.
Cuba kills 4 on a speedboat
According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the incident occurred early Wednesday when Cuban authorities detected a fast-moving vessel inside Cuban territorial waters near the El Pino channel in Villa Clara province.
The ministry claimed that the boat had approached within one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in the Cayo Falcones area before border forces moved in to identify the vessel.
According to the ministry, shots were fired from the speedboat toward Cuban personnel as border guards approached, leaving the commander of the Cuban vessel injured.
Cuban authorities said four people aboard the boat were killed during the confrontation, while six others were wounded and taken for treatment.
The government described the incident as a defensive operation and said the island nation would continue protecting its territorial waters and sovereignty.
Cuba went on to claim that the passengers on the U.S. speedboat were armed Cubans living in the United States who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism, according to AP.
