Posted on 10/22/2025 8:47:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The U.S. military campaign against vessels crewed by civilians allegedly involved in drug trafficking continued Tuesday with a new extrajudicial attack, the eighth reported since September. The novelty this time is that the latest strike took place off the Colombian coast, in the Pacific Ocean, and not, as in previous cases, in the Caribbean Sea.
The news was reported Wednesday by CBS, citing two anonymous official sources. Confirmation came shortly thereafter from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that the U.S. military had killed two people on this occasion, bringing the death toll from the eight extrajudicial operations to at least 34 civilians.
Hegseth described the crew as “narco-terrorists” in a post on X, in which, as has been customary for almost two months, he reproduced a video of the moment when the vessel was blown up. “Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness — only justice,” he added, without offering further details about the identity of those on board the boat or evidence about the cargo they were carrying. He also said that the order had been given by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement comes two days after Hegseth himself — and not, as has also been customary, Trump — broke the news of the seventh attack on Sunday.
The target was a vessel that U.S. authorities linked to the National Liberation Army (ELN), a Colombian guerrilla group that the U.S. has considered a terrorist organization since the 1990s. In a post on X, Hegseth claimed that the vessel was “traveling along a known narco-trafficking route, and was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics.” Three people were killed.
The Secretary of Defense also stated that the operation, whose target was Colombian and not, as in previous instances, Venezuelan, took place in international waters and within the area of responsibility of the U.S. Southern Command, which includes the Caribbean Sea. In recent weeks, there has been an unprecedented deployment in the area, including warships, a nuclear submarine, and some 10,000 troops.
Senators from both parties oppose Trump’s declaration of war against these criminal organizations and his invocation of a 1970s law that gives him the authority to conduct these operations — which are set to end in early November and can be extended for an additional 30 days — for a period of 60 days without congressional approval.
Over the weekend, the U.S. president also confirmed the sixth extrajudicial operation in a campaign that began in early September. On that occasion, the target was a shallow-diving submersible vessel. The military killed two civilians, while two others, a Colombian and an Ecuadorian, survived.
Both were repatriated to their home countries, and the latter is now free, as the Ecuadorian Public Prosecutor’s Office found no evidence to charge him with any crime.
U.S. authorities have not yet provided any evidence about the crew members of these vessels or the cargo they were carrying. The death penalty is legal in much of the United States, although it is never applied for drug trafficking, and a trial must always be held first.
Which judiciary is the USA supposed to consult or obtain a warrant from before taking action?
RandFan, Rand Paul, and Assie cry.
Exactly!
We give enemy combatants judicial protection?
Apparently the media and dims forget about the record setting strikes carried out by the Obummer admin. Sometimes outpacing WW2 numbers.
Apparently, according of the Law of high seas, which US never signed, they are entitled to one.
RE: Apparently, according of the Law of high seas, which US never signed, they are entitled to one
So, how does this work... the US Navy tracks a boat on its way to the USA, it is certain that it contains narcotics, then according to the so-called law of the high seas, where does it go to to obtain permission to blow it out of the water? And how long will the permission take before it reaches our shores?
I swear, you people are being contrary for the sake of being contrary.
[vessel was “traveling along a known narco-trafficking route, and was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics.”]
Stop transporting drugs...
Anyone who couldn’t see this one coming is.... slow.
I will guess that air craft detection technology has become so good that flying anything over the USA border is almost impossible.
The cartels have declared war on America and Americans. FR’s dirtbag libertarians object to us answering their call, why? Because it might mean coke will become more expensive?
“What is this “extrajudicial” term that they keep using? “
It means there’s no law saying it’s legal for the US military to shoot civilian boats. People support this right up to the moment other countries start saying “the person in this boat is a terrorist” and start blowing up civilian boats in US waters.
Once they have access to all the facts and details, the producers of “To Catch A Smuggler” should move ahead with a prime time special. Video enhancements, mission audio, animated graphics depicting general scenarios, guest appearances by Trump, Hegseth, Rubio, Bondi, Noem,...See your tax dollars at work!...like never before.
The destruction of these drug running boats deprives those coordinating these runs of the monetary revenue from the sales of those drugs. The loss of that revenue will be devastating and serves to collapse their operation. No need to directly eliminate those coordinating their operation.
US Marines conduct extrajudicial landings on Iwo Jima, storm Mount Suribachi without a warrant, House begins impeachment hearings against Roosevelt.
FR’s dirtbag libertarians object to us answering their call, why?
//
Cuz
They are FR.antifa acolyte’s
It’s a religion with them.
“ civilian planes”
Flown by “ civilians”
Like the” civilian boats”
No doubt monitored by our intel network long before leaving the port for water skiing and marlin fishing
Man the search for vjctims of King Trump is really scraping bottom now
How much are the cartels paying El Pais for their support?
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