In a bold move against international drug trafficking, the Trump administration has announced that the survivors of this week’s strike on a drug trafficking submarine will be sent back to their home countries, rather than to the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump detailed the successful strike, which he described as a direct hit on a "drug-carrying submarine" headed toward the U.S., loaded with fentanyl and other illegal narcotics.
"It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE," Trump wrote. "U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics." He added that the vessel was carrying "four known narcoterrorists," two of whom were killed in the operation. The remaining two survivors will be returned to Ecuador and Colombia for detention and prosecution.
Trump emphasized the importance of the strike, stating, "At least 25,000 Americans would die if I allowed this submarine to come ashore." He also reassured the public that no U.S. forces were harmed during the operation. “Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea,” Trump declared.
The operation, which targeted a semi-submersible vessel, underscores the Trump administration’s firm stance on narcotrafficking and the ongoing battle against drug cartels operating in the region. The military’s strike was part of broader efforts to curb illegal drug trafficking into the U.S., especially fentanyl, which continues to fuel a deadly epidemic.
This military action comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Earlier this week, Trump escalated matters with threats of a ground assault on Venezuela, while confirming covert CIA operations inside the country. In a dramatic show of force, nuclear-capable bombers were reportedly ordered to circle the Venezuelan coast. This move seems aimed at pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down.
Maduro, unsurprisingly, has responded with fury, labeling the U.S. actions as acts of aggression, threats, and harassment. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, which targeted boats in the Caribbean Sea, and has called them unjustified provocations toward the country.
In response to the mounting tension, Trump made it clear that his administration sees the U.S. in "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels, which are allegedly linked to the Maduro regime. This year alone, the U.S. military has carried out six strikes on Venezuelan boats, killing over two dozen individuals in the process.
Maduro, reportedly eager to avoid further escalation, has made an offer to Trump: preferential access to Venezuela’s abundant natural resources in exchange for dialing back the aggressive military stance. Trump, however, is undeterred. As he told reporters this week, “He doesn’t want to f*** around with the United States.”
The situation continues to unfold, but one thing is clear: the Trump administration is making it abundantly clear that it will not stand idly by when it comes to securing U.S. borders and fighting the global drug trade.
