US destroys suspected drug ship from Venezuela, 11 dead

On Tuesday, the US armed forces attacked a boat from Venezuela, killing 11 people. According to President Donald Trump, the boat was transporting illegal drugs. This is the first known operation since US warships were deployed to the southern Caribbean.

“We just destroyed a drug-laden boat,” Trump said at the White House. A drone video he released shows the explosion of a speedboat. Trump said those killed were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, classified as a terrorist group, which he claimed was under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Caracas rejects these allegations.

The US Department of Defense did not provide any information on the type or quantity of drugs. Experts criticized the killing of suspected drug traffickers without trial. The US military operation brings back memories of earlier anti-terrorism operations.

The US currently has seven warships and a nuclear submarine stationed in the region, supported by reconnaissance aircraft. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the drugs were presumably destined for Trinidad or other Caribbean countries. Trump emphasized that he would take aggressive action against drug cartels.

Venezuela stated that the gang had already been broken up in a raid in 2023.

(reuters, est)