JTF Southern Spear killed 3 aboard suspected narcotics vessel in Caribbean; 7th strike, ~14 campaign deaths

On October 17, 2025, the U.S. military conducted a lethal strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel linked to Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) in international waters in the Caribbean Sea, killing three men.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the operation on October 19, 2025, stating that the vessel was "known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route, and was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics." Hegseth characterized the three men as "narco-terrorists" and stated: "All three terrorists were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike."

The strike occurred without trial, conviction, or judicial process. President Trump explicitly stated he would not seek congressional authorization for the strikes, establishing unilateral executive lethal authority outside war-powers frameworks. Colombian President Gustavo Petro disputed the characterization of the vessel and its occupants, calling it a fishing boat belonging to a "humble family" and stating the vessel captain was Alejandro Carranza, a humble fisherman from Santa Marta. This strike marks the 7th in the Operation Southern Spear campaign, which has conducted strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels since September 2025, reportedly resulting in approximately 14 deaths.