Trump Claims Success in Drug War with Attack on Narcoterrorists
President Donald Trump announced the successful targeting of three unidentified “narcoterrorists” following a recent military strike against a vessel linked to drug trafficking. In a post on Truth Social on the night of September 29, 2023, Trump stated that he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to execute the operation in the Caribbean Sea, claiming it was part of a broader strategy to combat drug-related violence in the United States.
The operation marks the third such strike ordered by Trump within a month, emphasizing his administration’s aggressive approach to narcotrafficking. The president’s post detailed that the vessel was traversing a “known narcotrafficking passage” and was on a route believed to be aimed at harming Americans with illicit drugs. He stated, “On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
Trump’s announcement included a declaration of the strike’s success, noting that it resulted in the deaths of three male suspects without any harm to U.S. forces. He reiterated his stance against drug trafficking, concluding his post with a strong message: “STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!”
The video accompanying the post purportedly captured footage of the strike, showcasing a vessel engulfed in flames after being targeted from the air. Although similar footage had been identified as AI-generated earlier in September, there has been no indication that this latest video is also fabricated. Nonetheless, the lack of information regarding the identities of those killed or the specific details of the operation raises questions about transparency.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for further clarification. In a previous statement regarding an earlier strike, Trump claimed, “We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place.”
Despite the administration’s assertions, legal experts have voiced concerns over the legality of such extrajudicial strikes in international waters. Hegseth, who has been referred to as the Secretary of War by Trump, stated that the U.S. possesses “absolute and complete authority” to take such actions in the interest of national security.
Retired Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham raised alarms about the administration’s lack of transparency in its military operations, highlighting the potential legal ramifications. She remarked, “The lack of transparency by the administration when they’re using lethal force in the American people’s name, in a very unique manner, is deeply troubling.”
Democratic Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, echoed these concerns, particularly regarding the first strike earlier this month. He stated, “There is no evidence—none—that this strike was conducted in self-defense,” emphasizing that U.S. military actions against civilian vessels must abide by both domestic and international law.
In response to criticism, Vice President JD Vance defended the administration’s approach. During a rally in Michigan, he expressed his disregard for detractors, joking about the effectiveness of the strikes in deterring drug boats from entering U.S. waters, saying, “I know why! I would stop too.”
As the administration continues its controversial tactics in the fight against drug trafficking, the implications of such military actions remain a subject of significant debate and scrutiny among legal experts and lawmakers alike.
