U.S. strike on alleged drug vessel in Eastern Pacific leaves 4 dead

A new U.S. military strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific has left four people dead, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

The strike was carried out on April 14 at the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, who ordered Joint Task Force Southern Spear to target a vessel the command said was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” SOUTHCOM said in a statement.

The four people who were killed were described by the command as male narco-terrorists. SOUTHCOM said no U.S. military personnel were harmed.

This is the third day in a row that the U.S. military has carried out airstrikes on alleged drug vessels in the Eastern Pacific. Since Sunday, at least four vessels have been struck, leaving at least 11 dead, while one other survived, though their condition is not known.

Tuesday’s strike was conducted as part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched in September to target vessels allegedly linked to designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

Since the campaign began, 51 vessels have been struck, resulting in at least 172 deaths. Of those, 36 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 15 in the Caribbean.

On April 14, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/RH5ldx9tN0

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) April 14, 2026