US Military Destroys Drug Submarine, Kills Two Narcoterrorists
In a major counter-narcotics operation, US forces destroyed a drug-carrying submarine and killed two alleged narcoterrorists, President Donald Trump announced. Two survivors from Ecuador and Colombia will be repatriated for prosecution.
Key Details of the Operation
President Trump confirmed the strike via Truth Social, stating the submarine was intercepted on a known trafficking route while carrying large quantities of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.
“It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route,” Trump wrote.
“U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics. There were four known narcoterrorists on board the vessel. Two of the terrorists were killed,” he added.
Lives Saved and Survivor Status
Trump claimed the operation potentially saved thousands of American lives, asserting that “at least 25,000 Americans would die if I allowed this submarine to come ashore.”
The two surviving suspects are being returned to Ecuador and Colombia for detention and prosecution. No US personnel were harmed during the operation.
Operation Timeline and Regional Context
According to Al Jazeera, the vessel was struck on Thursday. The two survivors were rescued by US forces via helicopter and transported to a nearby US Navy warship, where they were held at least through Friday evening.
This incident is part of a broader campaign – since September, the US has conducted strikes on at least six vessels, mostly speedboats, in the Caribbean. Some vessels are believed to have originated from Venezuela.
While Washington claims the campaign significantly impacts narcotics trafficking, concrete evidence proving those killed were involved in smuggling operations has not yet been presented. Trump’s latest statement brings the total fatalities from US strikes on suspected smuggling vessels in the region to at least 29.
