[snip]
“This vessel—like EVERY OTHER—was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Secretary Hegseth stated. “Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike… All three terrorists were killed.”
Secretary Hegseth asserted that the action is part of a broader, aggressive strategy to combat groups using drug trafficking to fund operations and target the United States. He drew a direct comparison between the DTOs and established terrorist groups.
[snip]
The statement emphasizes a significant escalation in the government’s approach to counter-narcotics operations, explicitly linking drug smugglers on known routes to terrorism and justifying lethal force in international waters.
* Original Article:
https://www.tampafp.com/lethal-kinetic-strike-u-s-sinks-narco-vessel-in-caribbean-vows-to-treat-drug-smugglers-like-al-qaeda/