U.S. Destroys Alleged Venezuelan Drug Boat in International Waters, Administration Says

U.S. forces destroyed a small boat carrying 11 people in the southern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, the administration said, in an operation targeting an alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking vessel. The strike took place in international waters, and the vessel’s destination remained unclear; President Donald Trump said the boat was bound for the United States and described the occupants as "Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists." The White House framed the action as part of a broader push to "wage combat" against drug cartels.

Officials characterized the struck vessel as a small, maritime smuggling craft connected to transnational criminal activity. The operation, announced by the administration, did not include immediate public detail about the weaponry used, the sequence of events at sea, or the status of the 11 people after the strike.

The action follows a string of increasingly assertive U.S. measures toward Venezuela. In recent weeks, the administration has accused Venezuelan authorities of "narcoterrorism" and alleged cooperation with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang that has extended operations across borders. Last week, the United States dispatched multiple warships and an attack submarine to the Caribbean, positioning naval assets near Venezuela amid heightened tensions.

Tren de Aragua originated in Venezuela and is known to operate transnationally, according to U.S. statements and reporting. The Trump administration has repeatedly signaled a willingness to use an expanded range of tools to disrupt narcotics flows and transnational gangs; President Trump has long expressed interest in taking more direct military action against cartels.

The strike in international waters raises questions about the legal and diplomatic ramifications of unilateral maritime enforcement actions, but the administration presented the move as a targeted effort against criminal networks that threaten U.S. homeland security. There was no immediate public response from Venezuelan officials following the announcement.

The operation may signal a new phase in U.S. policy that blends counter-narcotics objectives with broader pressure on Venezuela and transnational criminal groups. The administration’s statements indicate an emphasis on direct, forceful action against maritime smuggling corridors, while officials continue to cite the threat posed by gangs like Tren de Aragua to regional security and to trafficking routes used to move narcotics toward the United States.

Further details on the strike, including the chain of command for the operation, any casualties or detainees, and communications between Washington and regional governments, had not been released publicly. U.S. officials said they would provide additional information as appropriate.