Washington, USA – US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced
that US forces carried out precision raids on four boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean,
The operation resulted in the deaths of 14 suspected drug traffickers,
the latest in Washington’s efforts to combat maritime smuggling networks in Latin America.
Hegseth said in a brief statement that the boats were moving in a coordinated formation,
carrying drug shipments believed to be bound for North America.
He added that US forces “targeted specific locations with high precision
after being identified through aerial surveillance and naval intelligence.”
The statement explained that the operation was carried out in cooperation
with the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
which oversees military activities in the Central America and East Pacific region,
Drug smuggling networks operating from South America to the US coast are active.
The US Department of Defense did not reveal details of the exact locations targeted by the raids.
But she stressed that the operation was “consistent with international law,”
It aims to protect US national security and combat transnational organized crime.”
This operation comes weeks after Washington announced the strengthening of
its military presence in the sea lanes between South America and Mexico.
To combat the rising quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine smuggled by sea.
