US says strike killed two on alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific
Mar 20th 2026 ยท World
US Southern Command says it struck an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific; three people were reported as survivors initially but the Coast Guard later said two of them were found dead and one was recovered alive.
- US Southern Command said it struck a low profile vessel on known narco trafficking routes and posted a video of the boat bursting into flames.
- The military initially reported three survivors but the Coast Guard later said two of the three were found dead and one person was recovered alive.
- Reuters reported the lone survivor and the remains were transferred to the Costa Rican Coast Guard.
- The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, which governments say has killed at least 159 people in 46 incidents since September 2, 2025.
- Previous incidents include two survivors in October who were repatriated and released without charge and a December revelation that two survivors from the first attack were killed in a follow up strike.
- International legal scholars call the campaign extrajudicial and critics say the US has not publicly released evidence or identified those killed, while some families claim the victims were fishermen or informal workers.