US military says four killed in strike on suspected drug-trafficking boat in Caribbean

Published on 20/09/2026 - 9:11 GMT+2

The US military said its forces struck a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean on Saturday, killing four people.

"Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal, kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean," US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a statement shared on social media.

It added that "confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking."

The post also contained video footage of what appeared to be the strike, showing a moving boat followed by a large explosion.

The US has moved to clamp down on drug-smuggling routes under US President Donald Trump, who has pledged to "wage war" against drug cartels. The president says cartels threaten the US' national security and foreign policy and bring "devastating consequences" to communities across the country.

As part of this push, the US launched operation "Southern Spear," which aims to "disrupt the flow of narcotics in the Western Hemisphere" through a campaign of air strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific.

Trump has also spearheaded a new security coalition including nations from across Central and South America - dubbed the "Shield of the Americas" - in a bid to combat cartels.