U.S. Navy Destroyer Inspected Venezuelan Fishing Boat for Suspected Drugs
Ponce, Puerto rico - Personnel aboard the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) inspected a Venezuelan fishing boat on September 6, 2025, after receiving information it may have been carrying narcotics, a U.S.official confirmed to ABC News. The search yielded no drugs.
The incident, which occurred in waters disputed by Venezuela, has escalated tensions between the two nations.Venezuela’s foreign ministry condemned the action as a “direct provocation” and ”illegal use of excessive military means.” The U.S. official disputed the Venezuelan claim that the search lasted eight hours and asserted the boarding took place in international waters.This event follows a series of heightened encounters in the region, including a recent U.S. military strike on an alleged drug boat and the close approach of Venezuelan military aircraft to the USS Jason Dunham.
The inspection is part of a broader U.S. effort to combat illegal drug smuggling, an initiative President Trump announced earlier this month with a call for increased military presence in the ocean. On September 2,Trump announced a U.S. strike on a vessel allegedly carrying drugs and linked to the “Tren de Aragua” criminal organization,resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals.
Prior to the inspection, on September 2, the Pentagon reported that two Venezuelan military aircraft had flown near the USS Jason Dunham in international waters, characterizing the move as “highly provocative.” The U.S. maintains its operations are focused on disrupting the flow of illicit drugs and combating criminal activity in the region.