On Monday, December 22, 2025, the U.S. military carried out yet another strike against a vessel it alleged was involved in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person. According to U.S. Southern Command, the strike targeted what was described as a "low-profile vessel"—a type of boat often associated with narco-trafficking operations and frequently used by drug cartels to evade detection. The operation marks the latest in a months-long campaign by the Trump administration to disrupt narcotics routes and ramp up pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The strike, directed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and executed by Joint Task Force Southern Spear, took place in international waters along what U.S. authorities have identified as established drug transit routes. In a statement posted to social media, U.S. Southern Command said, "Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations." The command did not provide additional evidence that the vessel was actually carrying drugs at the time of the strike. Notably, no U.S. service members were harmed during the operation.
This latest incident is part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign that has seen at least 29 strikes on alleged drug vessels since early September 2025. According to figures reported by BBC and CNN, these operations have resulted in the deaths of at least 105 people. The Trump administration contends that these actions are necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and to put added pressure on Maduro’s regime in Venezuela, which it accuses of collaborating with drug cartels and facilitating narcotics trafficking.
President Trump, speaking at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the campaign. He emphasized the scale of the U.S. military buildup in the region, stating, "We have a massive armada—the biggest we’ve ever had, and the biggest we’ve ever had in South America." Trump further commented on the situation with Venezuela, saying, "He [Maduro] can do whatever he wants. It’s all right, whatever he wants to do. If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’d be the last time he’s ever able to play tough." He added that it would be "smart" for Maduro to step down, though he declined to specify any further intentions regarding Venezuela.
The administration has justified the strikes by asserting that the United States is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels, which it has designated as terrorist organizations. This classification, according to the administration, allows for lethal action without judicial review, based on a classified Justice Department finding. Those killed in the strikes have been labeled "unlawful combatants" by U.S. officials. However, this legal rationale has come under scrutiny from both congressional Democrats and a handful of Republicans, as well as from human rights activists.
Critics argue that the Trump administration has failed to provide sufficient evidence that the vessels targeted were actually engaged in drug smuggling at the time of the strikes. Lawmakers and activists have described the operations as amounting to extrajudicial killings, raising concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential for violations of international law. As FRANCE 24 and NPR report, the administration has offered little public proof to support its claims, and videos released by Southern Command—while dramatic, showing boats catching fire and sometimes exploding after missile strikes—do not confirm the presence of narcotics on board.
The campaign’s scope extends beyond maritime strikes. The U.S. Coast Guard has stepped up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea, a move closely tied to the administration’s broader strategy against Maduro. Last week, President Trump ordered a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a country heavily reliant on oil exports for its economic survival. U.S. authorities have intercepted at least two tankers off Venezuela’s coast this month and are reportedly pursuing another. The blockade, according to the Trump administration, is intended to cut off Maduro’s access to vital oil revenues and further isolate his government.
Venezuela’s response has been swift and unequivocal. In a letter signed by President Maduro and read by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, the Venezuelan government condemned the U.S. naval blockade, warning that it would disrupt global energy supplies. The letter also denounced the U.S. strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific as part of a "systematic practice of lethal force" outside international law. Maduro’s government has consistently denied any collaboration with drug cartels and accused the Trump administration of pursuing regime change under the guise of counter-narcotics operations.
The international community has taken note of the escalating tensions. Both the Colombian and Venezuelan governments have voiced criticism of the U.S. strikes, with concerns mounting over the legality and potential humanitarian consequences of such actions. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers continue to press the administration for greater transparency and congressional authorization for the use of military force in these operations.
Amid the controversy, the Trump administration remains steadfast in its approach. Officials argue that the strikes and blockades are necessary to disrupt the increasingly sophisticated methods used by drug cartels, including the deployment of semi-submersible and low-profile vessels designed to evade detection. According to BBC, narcotics trafficking groups have long relied on such craft to move illicit cargo through international waters, complicating efforts by law enforcement and military agencies to interdict shipments before they reach U.S. shores.
As Operation Southern Spear continues, the debate over its legality, effectiveness, and humanitarian impact shows no signs of abating. For now, the U.S. military presence in the region remains robust, with both supporters and detractors watching closely to see whether the campaign will achieve its stated objectives—or provoke further backlash at home and abroad.
The events of December 22, 2025, underscore the high stakes and complex politics at play in the ongoing U.S. campaign against drug trafficking and the Maduro government. With lives lost at sea, diplomatic tensions on the rise, and questions swirling about the boundaries of presidential power, the situation remains as volatile as ever.
