US Navy Reports Decrease in Maritime Drug trafficking Following Recent Operations
During a visit to teh Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, President Trump stated, “We are stopping drugs to the extent that no one has seen yet.” He further claimed, “We are doing so well that there are no ships. Indeed, even fishing ships – no one wants to swim to the sea. I regret to say it.”
These comments follow a series of US military actions targeting suspected drug traffickers near Venezuela. US officials report at least 21 individuals have been killed in these operations. The white House defends the use of force, asserting it disrupts the flow of drugs into the United States.
However, the actions have drawn criticism from Democrats and legal experts who question the legality of employing deadly force against suspects in international waters without prior detention or interrogation.
President Trump indicated his management’s policy is effective and suggested potential expansion of operations to land. “They are no longer saving, so we will now have to become interested in land because they will be forced to go on land. I will promptly tell you that they will not be there,” he said. He also alluded to a recent, unconfirmed strike.
The Pentagon’s moast recently announced operation occurred on Friday, reporting the deaths of four individuals identified as “narcoterrorists” aboard a vessel off the Venezuelan coast. A Pentagon video depicts the speedboat engulfed in smoke and flames.
