MIAMI – The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has confirmed the sinking of a vessel linked to narcotics trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals.
In an official statement released on February 9, SOUTHCOM reported that, under the direction of Commander General Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force “Southern Spear” carried out what it described as a lethal kinetic strike against a boat operated by organizations designated as terrorist entities.
According to the statement, intelligence sources had confirmed that the vessel was navigating along known drug trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was actively involved in narcotics operations.
Two individuals described by the U.S. military as “narco-terrorists” were killed during the operation, while one person survived the strike. Following the attack, U.S. Southern Command immediately notified the United States Coast Guard to activate search and rescue procedures for the survivor.
The statement did not specify the exact location of the incident or the type and quantity of narcotics involved. Further operational details were also not disclosed.
U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Miami, oversees military operations and security cooperation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The Eastern Pacific is considered one of the primary maritime corridors for cocaine trafficking toward North America.
The latest operation underscores ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to disrupt transnational criminal organizations operating across maritime routes in the region.