U.S. operations against drug trafficking ships intensify surveillance in the Eastern Pacific

The U.S. Southern Command reported a new operation carried out on January 23 in the waters of the Eastern Pacific, targeting vessels used by Designated Terrorist Organizations involved in drug trafficking. The attack resulted in two confirmed deaths and one survivor, according to official figures released by Southcom. Under the leadership of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed a lethal kinetic operation against the vessel after intelligence confirmed it was traveling along known drug trafficking routes in the region.

The January 23 operation: details of the action against suspicious vessels

According to the Southcom statement, military intelligence confirmed that the ship operated by these organizations was actively involved in drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. U.S. authorities reported that two suspected narco-terrorists were killed during the attack, while one survived the impact. Video footage circulated on social media shows the vessel sailing in the ocean before being intercepted by a significant explosion.

Immediately after the operation, Southern Command notified the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to activate search and rescue protocols for the sole survivor of the incident. U.S. armed forces are maintaining active search operations in the impact zone of the Eastern Pacific.

Campaign scale: 107 deaths since September

The January 23 operation is part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched in early September that has achieved significant reach. According to data from the White House, by the end of December, 30 operations had been conducted against suspected drug-smuggling ships, resulting in 107 confirmed deaths since the campaign’s start.

The last documented operation before this month was on December 31, when the U.S. government reported an attack on three suspicious vessels in the same ocean region, resulting in five fatalities. This pattern of escalation suggests an expansion of military efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in international waters.

Trump’s justification: armed conflict against cartels

President Donald Trump has repeatedly justified this series of operations as a necessary escalation measure to contain the flow of narcotics into U.S. territory. In his statements, Trump has characterized the situation as a state of armed conflict between the United States and the drug trafficking organizations operating from Latin America.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has significantly reinforced its military presence in the region prior to the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who is currently in U.S. custody. This convergence of events has generated diplomatic tensions in the Latin American region.

Legislative scrutiny of the vessel campaign and use of force

Despite the justifications provided, Trump’s campaign has faced growing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers since the first operation in September. Criticism intensified after the initial attack involved a bombing that killed two individuals clinging to the wreckage of the vessel after the first destructive impact, raising questions about engagement protocols and humanitarian response.

Legislators from both parties have expressed concerns regarding the legality, proportionality, and transparency of these operations in international waters, although the administration maintains its support for Operation Southern Spear as an essential tool for national security.

Information based on reports from AP and Southcom sources