Lawmakers Condemn U.S. Strike Campaign on Drug Boats

Over 70 lawmakers from North and South America, including those from the U.S., Canada, and Colombia, are urging the Trump administration to end its campaign against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The lawmakers describe these actions as extrajudicial killings at sea.

The rights to life, due process, and protections against arbitrary force are core principles of democratic rule of law. Allegations of drug trafficking do not override these protections or justify lethal force against non-threat individuals.

Since September of last year, the U.S. military has targeted alleged drug-smuggling boats, reportedly killing over 220 individuals labeled as ‘narco-terrorists.’ Human rights activists and legal experts assert these actions breach international law. Officials from the Trump administration claim these strikes aim to curb illicit drug flow and dismantle networks in the Western Hemisphere. However, evidence of drugs on these fast boats is absent.

At least 70 strikes have resulted in the death of 234 individuals since the campaign’s initiation on September 2, 2025. Lawmakers express concerns over the potential facilitation of these operations by other governments through intelligence sharing, military base access, logistics, and other support.

The White House has not commented on these concerns. UN human rights expert Ben Saul criticized the strikes, suggesting they could amount to crimes against humanity, arguing that criminal groups listed as terrorist organizations have not attacked the U.S., negating a self-defense claim.

U.S. forces are also targeting larger fishing boats in the Eastern Pacific, suspected as refueling stations. Marines now board these vessels to evacuate crews before any action, avoiding attacks on occupied vessels.

Lawmakers emphasize that combating drug trafficking and organized crime requires international cooperation, adherence to international law, respect for human rights, national sovereignty, transparency, accountability, judiciary diligence, corruption mitigation, and democratic oversight.