US Attacks on Suspected Drug Boats in Pacific Leave Several Dead

The U.S. Military killed seven people in strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean between April 12 and April 13, 2026.

On Saturday, April 12, the military destroyed two boats, resulting in five deaths and one survivor. U.S. Southern Command stated the targets were located along known smuggling routes, though the military did not provide evidence that the vessels were carrying drugs at the time of the attacks.

A subsequent strike was carried out on Monday, April 13, against another boat accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which killed two people.

Operation Southern Spear

These attacks are part of Operation Southern Spear, a military campaign launched by the administration of President Donald Trump to combat the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America into the United States.

The operation began with airstrikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea on September 1, 2025. The scope of the strikes expanded to include the eastern Pacific Ocean in October 2025.

The campaign is executed by the United States Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Since the start of the operation, at least 168 people have been killed, a figure that includes three individuals who are missing and presumed dead.

Additional reported casualties and outcomes from the operation include one person missing, three captured, and two extradited.

Targeting and Justification

President Donald Trump has justified the escalation, stating the United States is in armed conflict with cartels in Latin America. He has described the strikes as a necessary measure to reduce fatal drug overdoses in the U.S.

The administration has alleged that the targeted vessels are operated by groups designated as narcoterrorists. These groups include the Colombian far-left guerilla group National Liberation Army and the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua.

Reports indicate that the administration has offered little public evidence to support the claims that the individuals killed in these strikes were narcoterrorists.

Regional and Global Context

The strikes in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea are occurring as the Trump administration simultaneously prepares a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Following the April 12 strikes, U.S. Southern Command notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate search-and-rescue systems for the single survivor of the two destroyed boats.