As a result of the U.S. strike on a vessel suspected of drug smuggling, people have died

The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responsible for American forces in the region, reiterated a previously used statement on platform X that the vessel was following known drug trafficking routes and also published a video showing the ship engulfed in flames after the explosion.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been conducting a military campaign against drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific since September. As a result of these attacks on vessels suspected of drug smuggling off the coast of Venezuela, at least 183 people have died.

However, the Trump administration has not provided clear evidence that these vessels were indeed involved in drug trafficking, and the legality of such strikes is fiercely debated.

Experts in international law and human rights organizations believe that such strikes are equivalent to extrajudicial executions, as they target civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the U.S.

On April 24, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/FRHwqXsHm2

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) April 25, 2026