THE US MILITARY has said it killed two people in a strike on a boat it suspected of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific, while the Coast Guard is searching for a third person who survived.

It is the first known strike of its kind since the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. 

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the US Southern Command said in a post on X that included a clip of the strike on the multi-engined boat.

Three people were visible in the footage prior to the strike, and SOUTHCOM said it “immediately” notified the US Coast Guard to look for the one who survived.

US President Donald Trump’s administration began targeting alleged smuggling boats in September last year, insisting it is effectively at war with alleged “narco-terrorists” operating out of Venezuela.

But it has provided no definitive evidence that the vessels are involved in drug trafficking, prompting heated debate about the legality of the operations.

International law experts and rights groups say the strikes likely amount to extrajudicial killings as they have apparently targeted civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the US. 

Over 100 people have been killed in the strikes. 

The latest was the first carried out since US forces seized Maduro in a raid on Caracas in early January, bringing him and his wife to New York to stand trial on narco-terrorism charges. They have pleaded not guilty.

The US also announced that its top officer General Dan Caine will host military leaders from 34 countries on 11 February in Washington “to build shared understanding of common security priorities and strengthen regional cooperation.”

“Participating defense leaders will explore the importance of strong partnerships, continued cooperation, and united efforts to counter criminal and terrorist organizations, as well as external actors undermining regional security and stability,” Caine’s office said in a statement.

With reporting from AFP 2026