The US military killed 11 people in a strike on a Venezuelan vessel allegedly carrying narcotics, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, marking the first known operation since his administration deployed warships to the southern Caribbean.
“We just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He later posted a video on his Truth Social platform showing drone footage of a speedboat exploding and catching fire at sea.
According to Trump, the strike killed 11 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Washington designated a terrorist organisation in February. He claimed the group is backed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an allegation Caracas denies. “No US forces were harmed in this strike,” Trump said.
Venezuela’s Communications Minister, Freddy Ñáñez, questioned the authenticity of the footage, suggesting it may have been artificially generated. However, an initial review by Reuters using manipulation detection tools found no evidence of tampering, though further verification is ongoing.
The Pentagon has not released details about the type or quantity of drugs on board or the specific method used in the strike. Analysts noted the decision to destroy the vessel, rather than seize it and arrest its crew, was unusual. Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, wrote on X: “‘Being suspected of carrying drugs’ doesn’t carry a death sentence.”
The US has recently escalated its military presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying seven warships—including USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale—alongside a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine. More than 4,500 sailors and Marines are part of the buildup, which also includes surveillance flights by P-8 spy planes over international waters.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the drugs were likely destined for Trinidad or another Caribbean nation, adding: “The president is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States.”
The operation has heightened tensions with Caracas, where officials fear Trump’s targeting of Tren de Aragua could be a pretext for broader action against the Maduro government. The US last month doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, accusing him of ties to organised crime. Venezuelan authorities insist Tren de Aragua was dismantled following a prison raid in 2023.
Melissa Enoch
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