The U.S. military said on 8 May that it struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people and leaving one survivor, in the latest in a series of controversial maritime operations targeting suspected drug trafficking routes.
United States Southern Command said the boat was operated by “designated terrorist organisations” and was travelling along known narcotics trafficking routes, though it did not identify the groups or provide evidence supporting the claim.
Southern Command said the United States Coast Guard had been notified to assist with search and rescue efforts.
According to the The New York Times, citing a U.S. official, the Mexican navy was leading efforts to locate and recover the survivor. Few survivors have emerged from similar U.S. strikes in recent months.
Washington says the operations are aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking and targeting what President Donald Trump’s administration describes as “narco-terrorist” networks.
However, human rights organisations and legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of the attacks.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have described the strikes as “unlawful extrajudicial killings”.
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union said the administration’s claims against those targeted were “unsubstantiated” and accused officials of using fear-driven rhetoric.
U.S. forces have carried out multiple strikes on vessels in the eastern Pacific in recent weeks. According to available figures, the operations have killed more than 190 people since September.
The Trump administration maintains the vessels were involved in drug smuggling, though critics argue the military has provided little public evidence to justify the lethal use of force.
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