U. S. Takes Aim at Drug Trafficking in Venezuelan Waters

The U. S. has launched another military strike against a suspected drug boat near Venezuela. This time, four people were killed in what the Trump administration claims was a mission to stop a large shipment of drugs from reaching American shores. The strike, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, targeted a small speedboat in international waters. Officials say the boat was carrying enough drugs to potentially kill tens of thousands of people. President Donald Trump shared a video of the strike, emphasizing the danger posed by the drugs. Hegseth stated that no U. S. forces were harmed during the operation. He also mentioned that this is the fourth such strike in recent weeks. Previous strikes in September resulted in multiple deaths, but the administration has been vague about the details.The Trump administration justifies these actions by labeling drug cartels as "foreign terrorist organizations. " This allows them to use military force against what are essentially criminal networks. Legal experts, however, question this approach, arguing that drug traffickers should be handled by law enforcement, not the military. Some lawmakers are concerned about the lack of transparency. They feel the administration is conducting a "secret war" without proper congressional oversight. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the strikes, saying they are in the best interest of the American people. The U. S. has long accused Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of facilitating drug trafficking. The Trump administration has even put a $50 million bounty on his head. Hegseth warned that these strikes will continue until the drug threat is eliminated. Currently, there are eight Navy ships in the Caribbean, along with F-35 jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones in Puerto Rico. These resources are part of the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.