SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – A coordinated effort between the United States and the Dominican Republic has resulted in the destruction of a speedboat carrying over 2,200 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean. The operation marked a significant blow to drug trafficking routes targeting the U.S.
The U.S. Navy intercepted the vessel, which was found to contain 377 packages of cocaine. According to Dominican authorities, the boat was en route to their country, intending to facilitate the drug’s journey to the United States.
Former President Donald Trump addressed the operation on social media, noting that it was aimed at a terrorist organization operating within the U.S. Southern Command’s jurisdiction. This marks the third such operation in the month, following previous actions that targeted individuals linked to Venezuelan drug cartels.
Military forces have been active in the southern Caribbean since August, tasked with disrupting drug trafficking networks. However, the operations have sparked criticism from certain Democratic lawmakers and military analysts who argue that the strikes are unauthorized and pose significant risks.
Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine have proposed a war powers resolution to prevent further military actions. In addition, Human Rights Watch has condemned the operations, claiming they breach international human rights laws.
The White House has defended the actions, sending Congress a notification earlier this month. The notice asserts that Trump exercised his authority as commander-in-chief to safeguard Americans from national security threats.
As the debate continues, both the strategic impact and the legality of these operations remain under scrutiny, reflecting broader tensions over U.S. military involvement in drug interdiction efforts.