US Forces Destroy Narco-Trafficking Boats in Eastern Pacific, Killing Five

The United States military has carried out two successful strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of five suspected traffickers, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

In an announcement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth revealed that both operations targeted boats identified by intelligence agencies as being actively involved in narcotics trafficking. The vessels were reportedly moving along a well-known narco-trafficking route and carrying large quantities of illegal substances.

“Both vessels were known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, were transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and were carrying narcotics,” Hegseth stated. He described those killed in the strikes as “narco-terrorists.”

According to the Pentagon, the first strike took place on Tuesday, killing two people, while a second attack on Wednesday claimed three more lives. Both incidents occurred in international waters, with videos released online showing fast-moving speedboats struck by projectiles and engulfed in flames.

In one of the videos, large packages believed to be narcotics were seen floating on the water’s surface after the explosions. The U.S. Defense Department has not disclosed the exact type of weaponry used or the specific units involved in the strikes.

The coordinated operations mark a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to combat transnational drug trafficking and disrupt narcotics networks operating across the Pacific corridor — a route often used to transport cocaine and other illegal substances from South America to international markets.

These strikes underscore the U.S. government’s continued commitment to targeting organized crime and maritime smuggling operations, which officials say pose both regional and global security threats.