Officials in the Dominican Republic have disclosed that a boat, destroyed by the US Navy during the Trump administration’s fight against drug cartels, was transporting over 2,000 pounds of cocaine.
Authorities seized a total of 377 packages from the vessel approximately 80 nautical miles off Isla Vita, as reported by the National Bureau of Drug Control (DNCD). This incident marks the third in a series of US operations targeting drug trafficking boats.
In a recent video, DNCD showcased agents unloading the drugs on Sunday, revealing some packages marked with the label “male.”
“This is the first time in history that the US and the Dominican Republic have carried out a joint operation against narcotics in the Caribbean,” a DNCD statement mentioned, as translated by CBS.
In response, Venezuela has expressed strong opposition, mobilizing its navy and preparing local militias to deal with the US actions in the region. Nicolás Maduro publicly referred to the situation as a peculiar threat to what he called “the decline of the empire.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also criticized the strike that took place on September 3, suggesting that those aboard the ship were “poor youth” and not significant drug traffickers. Colombia remains the world’s largest exporter of cocaine amid ongoing turmoil with cartels.
All three recent US strikes occurred in international waters, underscoring the contentious nature of these operations.
President Trump declared on Truth Social on Friday, “In America, we will stop the sale of fentanyl, drugs, and illegal substances, and commit to fighting violence and terrorism against Americans!!!”
The White House has yet to provide a comment on the unfolding situation.
