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Narco Trafficking

All articles tagged with #narco trafficking

US Strikes Narco Vessel in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two Amid Controversial Campaign
americas18 hours ago

US Strikes Narco Vessel in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two Amid Controversial Campaign

The US Southern Command says it conducted a lethal strike on a low-profile vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing two men it labels narco-traffickers as part of a year-long campaign against drug trafficking at sea. The operation, which critics say lacks publicly verifiable evidence of drug involvement, follows a broader pattern of similar strikes that have destroyed boats and resulted in dozens of casualties and ongoing search-and-rescue efforts. International bodies and humanitarian groups have questioned the legality and effectiveness of the campaign, while oversight reviews and victim-family investigations continue.

US conducts Eastern Pacific strike, kills two alleged narco-terrorists
politics1 day ago

US conducts Eastern Pacific strike, kills two alleged narco-terrorists

The U.S. military says it killed two people described as narco-terrorists in a Sunday strike on a low-profile vessel in the Eastern Pacific after intelligence linked the ship to narco-trafficking; the operation, led by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere under SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, follows a similar strike about two months earlier and is part of a broader anti-narco-trafficking effort framed by officials as disrupting cartel networks and protecting the homeland, though the policy has drawn controversy.

US strikes suspected narco-ship in Pacific, two killed
world1 day ago

US strikes suspected narco-ship in Pacific, two killed

The US Southern Command says it struck a low-profile vessel suspected of narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, killing two people, as part of Operation Southern Spear aimed at disrupting cartels. The move is framed as a demonstration of lethal precision and commitment to protecting the U.S. homeland, but rights groups warn of possible extrajudicial killings and a Pentagon inspector general review of targeting procedures.

US hits another suspected drug-boat in the Pacific, two killed
world2 months ago

US hits another suspected drug-boat in the Pacific, two killed

The U.S. military released video of another strike on a boat suspected of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific, killing two men and marking the fifth such attack in about a week, with total fatalities in these operations at least 207 since the campaign began. The military says the strikes target known smuggling routes under orders from Gen. Francis L. Donovan, while critics question legality and the evidence linking the vessels to drug trafficking, noting that fentanyl largely enters the U.S. by land. The White House says the actions are self-defense, and a Pentagon inspector general review will examine the targeting process (the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle), not the overall legality of the strikes.

US strikes narco-ship in the eastern Pacific, killing three amid legality concerns
world2 months ago

US strikes narco-ship in the eastern Pacific, killing three amid legality concerns

The US military said it killed three men aboard a vessel in the eastern Pacific in back-to-back strikes, the second in as many days, as part of a week with four such operations; officials say the target was involved in narco-trafficking, but critics and rights groups say there is no definitive evidence of trafficking and have labeled the killings unlawful extrajudicial actions, even as the administration frames the measures as part of an armed conflict with drug cartels, with the total toll from similar strikes exceeding 200 in recent months.

Ecuadoran Judge Fatally Shot While En Route to Gym Amid Crime Crackdown
world3 months ago

Ecuadoran Judge Fatally Shot While En Route to Gym Amid Crime Crackdown

A judge in Machala, Lady Pachar, was fatally shot while driving to a gym during Ecuador's state of emergency against organized crime; she was not accompanied by her two bodyguards, despite threats, and authorities say the killing was retaliation for the release of gang members. The attack underscores violence against the judiciary, with at least 16 judges/prosecutors killed since 2022, as President Noboa pursues hard-line anti-drug measures backed by U.S. support in joint operations against narco networks.

US widens eastern Pacific strikes, kills two on narcotics-linked vessel
world3 months ago

US widens eastern Pacific strikes, kills two on narcotics-linked vessel

The US Southern Command says it killed two people and left one survivor in a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, marking the third attack in May against ships it says are linked to narco-trafficking. The Pentagon claims the vessel was operating along known drug-trafficking routes and tied to designated terrorist organizations, but provided no corroborating evidence. No US forces were harmed. Critics label the strikes extrajudicial killings and say there is no declared state of armed conflict to justify them; since the operation began in September, US officials say more than 170 people have been killed, though estimates vary.

Two Dead After U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Boat in the Pacific Sparks Legal Debate
world4 months ago

Two Dead After U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Boat in the Pacific Sparks Legal Debate

The U.S. military says it killed two people in an attack on a small boat in the eastern Pacific as part of a broader counter-narcotics campaign; the operation has reportedly killed about 178 people since last September, but critics question whether the targeted vessels were involved in drug trafficking and whether the strikes comply with U.S. and international law, with lawsuits by victims’ families and UN rights groups raising concerns.

Eastern Pacific boat strikes escalate as US claims four more lives
world4 months ago

Eastern Pacific boat strikes escalate as US claims four more lives

The US Southern Command says it killed four more people in a boat strike in the eastern Pacific, the third deadly attack in four days, bringing the total killed since September to at least 174. Officials say the targets were narco-traffickers, but legal experts and human-rights advocates condemn the strikes as extrajudicial killings lacking transparency, evidence of an imminent threat, or due process under international law.

Caribbean narco-ship strike leaves four dead in 47th US attack
world5 months ago

Caribbean narco-ship strike leaves four dead in 47th US attack

The United States carried out its 47th strike against an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing four people and bringing the campaign’s total fatalities to about 163. The operation, Southern Spear, cites intelligence that the vessel was involved in narco-trafficking, but critics call the killings extrajudicial and unlawful, noting a broader pattern of human-rights concerns, international scrutiny, and ongoing legal challenges by victims’ families and rights groups.

US strikes suspected drug-boat in Eastern Pacific; only one survivor recovered
world5 months ago

US strikes suspected drug-boat in Eastern Pacific; only one survivor recovered

The US military says it attacked a low-profile vessel in the Eastern Pacific suspected of narco-trafficking; initial reports of three survivors were revised, with two later found dead and one survivor recovered. The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign that has caused dozens of fatalities and faces criticism from scholars and observers who describe it as extrajudicial.

Eleven Killed in U.S.-Led Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats Across Caribbean and Pacific
world6 months ago

Eleven Killed in U.S.-Led Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats Across Caribbean and Pacific

The U.S. Southern Command says 11 men were killed in three strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean (four on the first vessel, four on the second, three on the third), with no U.S. personnel injured. The operation, carried out since September, has faced questions about legality and due process, as the Pentagon has provided no evidence that the boats carried drugs, while officials claim the crews were combatants in an armed conflict with drug cartels. The pace of strikes has slowed since Maduro's 2024 capture, and some families have sued the U.S. government. More than 130 people have reportedly been killed in these strikes overall.