A US military strike destroyed an alleged narco-trafficking semi-submersible in the Eastern Pacific on Sunday, killing two people, the military said in a post on X. US Southern Command confirmed the vessel's active involvement in drug trafficking, citing verified intelligence. The operation was directed by SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan.
The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, launched by President Donald Trump in September 2025 as part of a declared war on drug cartels. More than 200 people have been killed in strikes across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean since the operation began.
The campaign has drawn scrutiny. The Trump administration has not provided definitive evidence linking targeted vessels to drug trafficking, and legal experts have warned the strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings. The Pentagon's inspector general announced in May an evaluation of the military's targeting procedures.