The United States military carried out a strike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, resulting in six deaths, according to US forces. The report, cited by AFP from Washington, said the boat was believed to be operated by drug traffickers, though no evidence was released to support the claim. Since similar operations began in September, more than 150 people have reportedly been killed.

General Francis Donovan, head of the US Southern Command, stated on social media that intelligence indicated the vessel was traveling along a known drug trafficking route in the eastern Pacific. However, the operations have drawn criticism, with some describing them as extrajudicial killings. Families and some governments have claimed that certain victims were fishermen.

The Trump administration has described its campaign as a war against what it calls “narco-terrorists” active in Latin America. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last Thursday that the missions to detect drug-carrying boats from South America have been so effective that finding new targets has become increasingly difficult.