Latest Pacific Strikes Destroy Drug Boats, Leave Multiple Suspected Traffickers Alive

The latest War Department strikes targeting drug boats destroyed three vessels and left multiple suspected smugglers alive.

U.S. Southern Command said Wednesday that it had conducted kinetic strikes targeting “three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.” All three had been destroyed the day before, alongside three alleged “narco-terrorists.”

“These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,” Southern Command said on X. “Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes.” 

On Dec. 30, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence… pic.twitter.com/NHRNIzcrFS

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 31, 2025

“Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels,” Southern Command added. 

After the strikes, Southern Command said it notified the Coast Guard to begin a search-and-rescue operation. The Coast Guard confirmed it was sending resources to help mariners in distress in the Pacific Ocean after notice from the War Department. 

American officials told CBS News that there were approximately eight survivors of the strikes and that they occurred in the Eastern Pacific. 

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Since the Trump administration began targeting alleged drug boats in September, more than 100 suspected drug traffickers have been killed in strikes targeting more than 30 boats. Previous survivors have been repatriated to their home countries and referred for drug trafficking prosecution. 

In an escalation, American forces last week took out a drug facility at a Venezuelan port allegedly used to load narcotics onto smuggling vessels.

“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said Monday. “We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area… it’s the implementation area. That’s where they implement, and that is no longer around.”