US says two killed in boat strike as toll climbs over 180

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WASHINGTON DC: The United States military has significantly intensified its maritime anti-narcotics operations, with the total death toll from strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels now surpassing 180 individuals since September 2025.

On Saturday, April 25, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the most recent ‘lethal kinetic strike’ in the Eastern Pacific, which resulted in the deaths of two people. These operations, a cornerstone of the current administration’s campaign against ‘narco-terrorism,’ target vessels allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations along critical smuggling routes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

The scale of these operations is substantial, with at least 45 kinetic strikes recorded as of mid-March 2026, resulting in the destruction of 47 boats. Recent weeks have seen a surge in fatalities, including a strike on April 20 that killed three individuals in the Caribbean and an April 14 operation that left four dead in the Eastern Pacific. 

U.S. officials maintain that this aggressive posture is yielding results, citing a 56% decrease in the flow of fentanyl and a nearly 20% reduction in drug overdose deaths compared to the previous year.

However, the use of lethal force at sea has sparked international controversy and friction with regional allies. Governments, such as Costa Rica, have expressed concerns regarding sovereignty after being tasked with recovering bodies or survivors from strikes occurring near their territorial waters. 

Furthermore, legal experts and critics have questioned the adherence of these tactics to international laws of armed conflict, suggesting that while maritime strikes are highly visible, they may not address the significant volume of narcotics entering the U.S. through land routes.