The Trump administration has sunk seven boats in the Caribbean, killing 32 people, as part of counternarcotics operations that have drawn criticism and regional backlash. Colombian President Gustavo Petro suggested the need to 'get rid of' Trump in response to U.S. actions. These incidents coincide with confirmed CIA covert operations against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.
Since September 3, 2025, U.S. Special Forces have sunk seven vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 32 deaths onboard, according to reports. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described the first incident, stating, “We smoked a drug boat, and there’s 11 narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean, and when other people try to do that, they’re going to meet the same fate.” The administration claims these were drug-smuggling operations, with Trump asserting each boat carried enough fentanyl to kill 25,000 Americans, though no evidence has been provided to substantiate the presence of drugs or the terrorist label.
In contrast, the U.S. Coast Guard recently seized 76,140 pounds of narcotics worth $473 million in 19 interdictions without sinking vessels, and in 2022, it captured 105 tons through standard boarding and arrests. Critics, including retired military officers, argue there is no legal justification for deadly force against alleged smugglers, distinguishing them from organized terrorists like ISIS.
The latest sinking involved rescuing and extraditing two survivors, raising questions about evidence handling since the boats were destroyed. Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, resigned after one year, reportedly due to concerns over the operations' legality.
Tensions escalated with Colombian President Gustavo Petro's October 21, 2025, Univision interview, where he said, “Humanity has a first offramp, it is to choose to change Trump in various ways... If not, get rid of Trump,” while snapping his fingers. Petro accused the U.S. of murdering fishermen and violating sovereignty, prompting Trump to label him an “illegal drug dealer” and pledge aid cuts and tariffs. Trump confirmed authorizing CIA “covert operations” against Maduro over drug trafficking and migrant flows. Maduro has mobilized reserves, citing fears of invasion.