U.S. military destroys vessel suspected of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two

The Trump administration's drug interdiction efforts, which include strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs, began in September. At least 196 people have been killed in the actions.

Published: May 28, 2026 10:21am

The U.S. military on Wednesday destroyed a vessel suspected of transporting illegal drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean. 

Two men died in the strike, according to U.S. Southern Command, which posted a video of the strike on X. 

"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed," U.S. Southern Command said. 

The strike follows another on Tuesday, also in the eastern Pacific. That operation killed one man and left two survivors. U.S. Southern Command said it activated a search and rescue operation for the survivors, the Associated Press reported

The Trump administration's drug interdiction efforts, which include strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs, began in September. At least 196 people have been killed in the actions. 

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