Table of Contents
THIS is the astonishing moment when Donald Trump orders the strike on a drug-laden vessel, resulting in the deaths of three “narco-terrorists.”
The attack occurred just days after the US targeted a vessel, as the nation continues its battle against drug trafficking.
The moment a drug-laden vessel is destroyedCredit: X
A massive cloud of smoke erupts from the vesselCredit: X
The vessel is consumed by the explosionCredit: X
Footage shared by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth depicts the vessel speeding across the ocean.
A tremendous explosion erupts from the water as a precision weapon hits the boat.
Shortly after, it bursts into flames, producing a thick cloud of smoke before being completely destroyed.
Hegseth confirmed that Friday’s strike targeted a vessel associated with Colombia’s ELN guerrilla group – a significant drug cartel he referred to as the “Al-Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere.”
He stated the vessel was navigating a “known narco-trafficking route” and was carrying “substantial” quantities of drugs.
Three “narco-terrorists” aboard the ship perished in the explosion, he noted.
While Hegseth did not disclose the exact location of the strike, he mentioned that the vessel was operating in an area monitored by the Southern Command, which oversees US military operations in Latin America.
This operation follows a recent US attack on a drug-smuggling submarine off the coast of Venezuela.
Trump expressed his approval of the operation online, stating it was a “great honor” to eliminate the submarine, which was reportedly “loaded primarily with fentanyl.”
This week, Trump announced plans to deploy 10,000 US troops, nuclear-capable bombers, and America’s elite special operations unit — the “Night Stalkers” — to the waters near Venezuela.
He is intensifying efforts against the powerful drug cartels, which he alleges are supported by Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolas Maduro.
The Caribbean is now preparing for its most intense confrontation in decades as Maduro prepares his country for potential conflict and vows to resist any US aggression.
In a significant escalation, three B-52 bombers — the same heavy bombers employed in Iraq and Syria — are now deployed.
Meanwhile, MH-6 Little Birds and MH-60 Black Hawks from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the Night Stalkers, conducted low-level flights just 90 miles from Venezuelan territory.
This renowned unit, famous for the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, specializes in rapid, low-altitude night missions and often transports Green Berets, Navy SEALs, and Delta Force operatives into combat.
Trump's War on Drugs
DONALD Trump has initiated a comprehensive war on drugs – opting for missiles over law enforcement.
On the first day of Trump’s second term, he designated narco-traffickers as terrorists – granting him the authority to eliminate them before they can reach American shores.
This justification has been employed despite legal experts cautioning that his decision to strike a suspected drug-smuggling vessel was unlawful.
Observers in Washington argue that the criminals should have been apprehended – but the White House maintains that law enforcement has proven ineffective.
Trump declared after the strike: “There’s more where that came from.”
The US President has long expressed his intention to use military force against drug cartels, which he accuses Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of actively supporting.
Maduro has denied these allegations, and the past few months have seen escalating tensions devolve into a precarious standoff.
The US has positioned naval destroyers and troops around Maduro’s waters, while the Venezuelan dictator has ordered a large mobilization of troops.
Most of the American forces are stationed in Puerto Rico, with approximately 2,200 Marines deployed on amphibious assault ships.
The Pentagon has also sent F-35B stealth fighters, P-8 Poseidon surveillance planes, and MQ-9 Reaper drones to the area.
Venezuela’s dictator Nicolas Maduro has issued a stern warning to Washington as he seeks to establish a “puppet government.”
Maduro has confronted Donald Trump’s accusations, which the President insists are related to the trafficking of fentanyl
