President Donald Trump announced that the United States will return two survivors of a recent strike on a vessel he described as a “drug-carrying submarine” to their home countries, Ecuador and Colombia. Trump claimed that the strike, which occurred on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and was confirmed by U.S. intelligence to target a vessel loaded with Fentanyl and other illegal narcotics.
This incident marks the sixth U.S. strike on ships in the Caribbean Sea in recent weeks, with previous attacks resulting in at least 27 fatalities in waters off Venezuela, according to government sources. The two individuals who survived were reportedly rescued by a U.S. military helicopter and then transferred to a U.S. warship. Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed the return of the Colombian survivor, expressing relief at their survival and indicating that the individual would face legal proceedings.
In recent statements, Trump has intensified threats against Venezuela’s government, accusing it of drug trafficking aimed at the U.S. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has characterized Trump’s actions as efforts to impose U.S. control over Venezuela.
Trump defended the strikes as necessary for reducing drug trafficking and stated that no U.S. military personnel were harmed in the recent attack. He described the submarine as specifically designed for transporting large quantities of drugs. Meanwhile, UN-appointed human rights experts have referred to the U.S. strikes as “extrajudicial executions.” Trump has also indicated that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela and mentioned the possibility of launching attacks on Venezuelan territory.
Narco-subs, often homemade and constructed from fibreglass and plywood, have become a favored method for transporting drugs, being capable of evading detection and sinking post-delivery. The U.S. and other coastal nations have previously intercepted some of these vessels.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8xg1jve73o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss