Video shows a vessel allegedly involved in illicit narcotics trafficking traveling along a “known route” for such activity, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Image: Screenshot from Department of War video.
Guacamaya, October 23, 2025. Within less than 24 hours, the United States government carried out a second lethal strike in Pacific waters against a vessel allegedly linked to drug trafficking. The incident resulted in three fatalities and marks the ninth operation since the U.S. maritime deployment in the hemisphere, part of its stated war on narcotics.
In total, five crew members have died across the last two interventions, and up to 37 fatalities have been recorded if previous vessel destructions and sinkings are included. While initial actions—mainly in the Caribbean—focused on preventing transit from Venezuela, only three attacks have been directly tied to that country.
By contrast, the destroyed vessel near the Dominican Republic, the submarine attack that left a Colombian and an Ecuadorian survivor, the sinking of a ship linked to the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the two latest Pacific operations have involved Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Trinidadian crew members—though some details remain unconfirmed.
The Second Pacific Operation
Regarding the latest strike, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued the statement: “Under President Trump’s orders, the Department of War has carried out another lethal attack against a vessel operated by a designated terrorist organization (DTO). Once again, the now-deceased terrorists were engaged in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific,” he posted on X.
Following the announcement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the incident on X, citing violations of international law. “The attack on another vessel in the Pacific—whether Ecuadorian or Colombian—is a killing. Whether in the Caribbean or the Pacific, the U.S. government’s strategy breaks the norms of international law,” he stated.
Trump Pushes for Ground Offensive Against Cartels
Although the U.S. has not explicitly linked Venezuela to the latest wave of attacks, President Trump reiterated hours earlier his intention to expand the offensive against cartels allegedly tied to the Maduro government—this time on land. He did not specify whether these operations would take place on Venezuelan soil, but declared, “We’ll strike them when they arrive on land.”
The U.S. president affirmed he is “fully prepared” for ground operations against these drug trafficking networks and said he would “likely” notify Congress. “We have legal authority. This is a national security issue,” he stated during a White House meeting.
Trump has repeatedly warned that “something very serious is going to happen,” comparing the planned ground operations to the aerial and maritime strikes already executed in the Caribbean and now the Pacific. While Venezuela has not been directly named in these interventions, tensions remain high, and the lack of clarity has complicated U.S. efforts to gain regional support.
