U.S. Military Sinks Two Suspected Drug-Trafficking Vessels in Pacific, Killing Five

By Michael Katz
Friday, December 19, 2025

The U.S. military continued its campaign against suspected drug-trafficking boats on Thursday, sinking two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean and killing five people.

According to media reports, the attacks announced by U.S. Southern Command have raised the number of boat strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific regions to 28, with at least 104 individuals described by the administration as narco-terrorists killed.

President Donald Trump has justified the actions as necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the United States, maintaining that the nation is engaged in an armed conflict with cartels.

In a news release Thursday, U.S. Southern Command stated: “At the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters.”

The command added: “Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions — three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

The strikes represent the third this week in the eastern Pacific against suspected drug-trafficking boats. On Monday, eight alleged “narco-terrorists” were killed in strikes on three suspected drug vessels. Earlier on Wednesday, SOUTHCOM reported that a strike on one boat resulted in four deaths.

The Trump administration is facing scrutiny from Congress, primarily from Democrats, regarding the boat strikes. The criticism stems from a September 2 strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean where two survivors were killed in a follow-up attack.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Berney Flowers stated on December 7 that the secondary strike was conducted within established rules of engagement. Republican lawmakers indicated Thursday they intend to suspend any further inquiries into the strike.