Colombia Demands clarification After U.S. Strike on Distressed Boat Results in Deaths
BOGOTÁ, Colombia – Colombia is demanding answers from the U.S. government following a recent military strike on a Colombian vessel, alleging the boat was adrift and signaling distress when it was hit. The incident, which occurred on or around September 15th, resulted in the death of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza, according to statements from Colombian officials.
The U.S. has confirmed conducting at least six strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea in recent weeks, with President Donald Trump stating on Thursday that a “drug-carrying submarine” was destroyed, killing two individuals. Trump asserted, via social media, that U.S. intelligence confirmed the vessel was “loaded up with mostly fentanyl,and other illegal narcotics.” He further stated on Friday, via his Truth Social platform, that the submarine was “built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs” and that the individuals aboard were not innocent. He added that two survivors, from Ecuador and Colombia, were being returned to their countries of origin.
Though, Colombian officials dispute the U.S.account of the September 15th incident.on X (formerly Twitter), a Colombian government representative stated: “The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure,” when it was struck. He added, “We await explanations from the US government.” He previously wrote on Saturday that “US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” and emphasized that Carranza “had no ties to the drug trade and his daily activity was fishing.”
The latest strike follows reports that at least 27 people have been killed in the prior five boat strikes off the coast of Venezuela, according to figures released by the U.S. management.
Trump has defended the ongoing operations as necesary to curb the flow of drugs into the U.S., but his administration has not yet provided evidence or details regarding the identities of the vessels or those on board. UN-appointed human rights experts have condemned the U.S.strikes, characterizing them as “extrajudicial executions.”
The incidents come amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, with Trump recently authorizing the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela and suggesting potential military action. Narco-subs, often homemade vessels constructed from materials like fiberglass and plywood, have become increasingly common for drug trafficking due to their ability to evade detection.
