The U.S. government has confirmed that a second vessel, attacked by American forces in international waters near Venezuela, was carrying drugs.
The announcement of this second operation against a vessel allegedly transporting illicit drugs was made on Monday, September 15, 2025, following a similar incident earlier in the month that heightened tensions in the Caribbean region.
According to official statements from the U.S. administration, the second attack on a vessel resulted in the deaths of three people on board, whom President Donald Trump described as “narcoterrorists.”
The operation was carried out by U.S. Southern Command as part of an intensified campaign against drug trafficking in the area.
“DANGER! IF YOU TRANSPORT DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU DOWN!” declared President Trump upon confirming the operation, emphasizing his administration’s stance.
Trump said that “these extremely violent drug cartels pose a threat to National Security, Foreign Policy, and the vital interests of the U.S.”
This second incident is part of a significant U.S. naval deployment in the Caribbean, previously announced as a measure to combat drug trafficking routes that, according to Washington, largely originate in Venezuela.
The first attack, which occurred in early September, resulted in the destruction of a boat and the deaths of 11 of its occupants. On that occasion, U.S. authorities also claimed the vessel was carrying a shipment of narcotics.
The Venezuelan government, for its part, has denied the accusations related to the first incident, even describing a video released by the U.S. as a “setup.”
So far, there has been no official statement from the Venezuelan government regarding this second attack.
Sources within the U.S. administration have reiterated that these military actions are a direct response to the activities of cartels and organizations using the Caribbean as a corridor for drug trafficking into the United States and other regions.
The confirmation that the second boat was carrying illicit substances reinforces, from Washington’s perspective, the justification for its controversial strategy of lethal interdiction in international waters.
