The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported on March 19 about a new lethal attack against a vessel linked to drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, as part of the military operation Southern Spear.
According to the official statement, the action was carried out by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the orders of the head of the Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan, after intelligence confirmed that the vessel was operating on known drug trafficking routes.
The vessel, described as a low-profile craft—commonly used to evade radar—was identified as part of drug trafficking operations linked to organizations deemed terrorist by the United States.
The attack left three of the occupants as survivors, who were subsequently the subject of a search and rescue operation coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties among U.S. military forces.
This action is part of the tightening of U.S. operations against drug trafficking in the region, particularly in maritime corridors used for the transport of drugs from South America.
Since the start of these expanded operations under the current administration in 2025, there has been no official public balance consolidating the total number of attacks carried out or the exact number of fatalities.
However, partial reports indicate a sustained increase in military actions, including interceptions, seizures, and selective attacks against vessels deemed illegal targets that would have resulted in over a hundred deaths.
The strategy aims to weaken the financing networks of organized crime and structures linked to allied regimes in the region, through the combined use of intelligence, military capabilities, and interagency cooperation.
Filed under: