In a dramatic escalation of anti-narcotics operations, the U.S. military has sunk a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean, killing 11 people in what President Donald Trump described as the first major action since deploying warships to the region. The strike, carried out on Tuesday, is the first known combat operation of its kind under Trump’s renewed offensive against drug trafficking networks operating out of South America.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “We just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat. And there’s more where that came from.” The president later posted video footage on his Truth Social platform, appearing to show a speedboat exploding at sea and engulfed in flames, allegedly captured by overhead drones.
Pentagon Silent on Strike Details; Trump Links Attack to Terror Designation
According to Trump, the individuals onboard were identified as members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. designated a terrorist organization in February. He reiterated longstanding accusations that the group is being directed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — a claim Maduro’s government has repeatedly denied.
“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. forces were harmed,” Trump said, without offering evidence of the group’s involvement in terrorism or the volume or type of narcotics aboard the vessel.
The Pentagon has declined to release any further details on the strike — including how the attack was carried out, whether it involved air or naval assets, or why the vessel was destroyed rather than seized. The decision to sink the suspected drug boat, rather than apprehend its crew, is seen by analysts as highly unusual and evocative of counterterrorism tactics used in the Middle East.
Caribbean Military Buildup Raises Regional Concerns
Tuesday’s strike comes amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean. At least seven U.S. Navy warships, along with a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, are either in the region or en route. The fleet includes the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale — some of which are equipped with helicopters and cruise missile capabilities. In addition, the U.S. military has been operating P-8 surveillance aircraft in the area to monitor maritime activity.
While the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have long conducted anti-drug patrols in the Caribbean, the scale of the current deployment is unusual. Over 4,500 sailors and Marines are now in the region, signaling a shift from interdiction to deterrence and, potentially, combat operations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented, “These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean. Suffice it to say, the president is going to be on offence against drug cartels and drug trafficking.”
Caracas has not officially responded to the incident, but concerns are rising within the Venezuelan government that the Trump administration may be using drug interdiction as a pretext for broader military action against Maduro. Last month, the U.S. increased its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, citing his alleged links to drug smuggling and criminal networks.
Venezuelan officials have previously claimed that Tren de Aragua was dismantled in a major prison operation in 2023 and is no longer active within the country.
