UMVA has learned that the U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three men described as "narco-terrorists" involved in drug trafficking.
The operation, directed by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear on June 18. The military said the vessel was transiting known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narcotics trafficking operations.
The strike resulted in the deaths of three men, with no information on whether anyone survived. Fortunately, no U.S. military personnel were harmed during the operation.
A brief video released by the military showed a vessel speeding through the water before erupting in flames, with additional footage appearing to show debris floating in the aftermath.
This operation is part of a months-long campaign launched by the Trump administration to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking networks. The action brings the total number of people killed in U.S. military strikes targeting vessels since September to at least 211.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the military has been actively targeting vessels linked to designated terrorist organizations. Just days prior, a strike in the Eastern Pacific killed one person described as a "narco-terrorist," while two others survived.
The U.S. military has also recently carried out a strike that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the alleged leader of Tren de Aragua. A $5 million reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The campaign has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, legal experts, and human rights groups who question the legal basis for using lethal military force against suspected traffickers outside a traditional battlefield.
The Eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for narcotics trafficking, with criminal organizations frequently using small vessels to move drugs toward North America.
