New Counternarcotics Task Force in the Caribbean

On Friday, Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth revealed that the Department of the Army is setting up a new joint counternarcotics task force in the Caribbean. The goal? To significantly diminish the power of cartels, eliminate harmful substances, and safeguard the U.S. As Hegseth put it, “If you traffic drugs to our shores, we will ruthlessly stop you.”

This initiative is part of a broader directive from President Donald Trump, targeting the Southcom region, which encompasses both the Caribbean and Latin America.

The task force will start operations under the Second Marine Expeditionary Force, aimed at coordinating and enhancing counternarcotics efforts across the Western Hemisphere, according to U.S. Southern Command’s statement.

Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of Southcom, mentioned in a statement that “transnational criminal organizations threaten the security, prosperity, and health of the hemisphere.” He added that by establishing this new task force, the military would improve its capability to collaborate with U.S. and allied forces to detect and dismantle illegal human trafficking networks more efficiently.

This announcement follows recent military actions that targeted boats in the Caribbean, claiming they were part of drug-trafficking operations. Over the past few months, there have been multiple attacks on small vessels suspected of carrying illegal drugs, resulting in several fatalities.

Concerns have arisen regarding the government’s lack of clarity about the evidence against these targeted vessels, which has raised eyebrows among Democratic lawmakers. In one airstrike alone, it was reported that 21 people lost their lives, highlighting the gravity of the situation.