US destroys alleged drug trafficking vessel in Eastern Pacific, kills four 'narco-terrorists'

The United States Southern Command announced Thursday that it has destroyed another alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific, taking out four male "narco-terrorists," in the process.

The strike comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over the handling of an attack in September, where a second strike was conducted on a single drug ship to allegedly kill two survivors of the first strike. 

Southern Command said the strike on Thursday occurred in international waters, and the ship was operated by a "Designated Terrorist Organization," though it did not specify which terrorist group. 

"On Dec. 4, at the direction of [War Secretary] Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization," Southern Command posted on X. "Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed."

The strike marked the first attack on a drug ship since last month. The Trump administration has launched over 20 strikes on alleged drug trafficking ships in international waters in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, which have killed at least 87 alleged “narco-terrorists," so far.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.