U.S. strikes two more boats allegedly running drugs

Earlier this week, two strikes killed five alleged narco-traffickers in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday. He posted two video clips appearing to show each of the boats bursting into flames. One video showed large packages floating in the water after the explosion.

How long will strikes continue? Hegseth said the strikes will continue until the threat to the American people is extinguished. These are the eighth and ninth strikes since a campaign against drug traffickers began in September. So far, the strikes have killed at least 37 people. This week's strikes seem to be an expansion, as all previous strikes were in the Caribbean. The strikes have been controversial, drawing condemnation from UN experts and some South American leaders.

Why is the United States striking drug runners? Earlier this month, Trump reportedly declared in an internal memo that the United States is engaged in a formal, armed conflict with drug cartels. The U.S. designated several cartels as terrorist organizations in February, in part for their connection to drug trafficking.

Narcotics deaths in America declined by around 24% last year. However, it’s still the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, with roughly 87,000 Americans dying of drug overdoses last year.

Why strike in the Pacific? Most cocaine smuggled into the United States comes by way of Mexico. However, the majority of the drugs arrive in Mexico via the Eastern Pacific from Colombia and Peru, according to the Department of Justice. 

Dig Deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on Trump canceling Colombia subsidies over drug trafficking.