U.S. Sinks Venezuelan Vessel in Caribbean, Killing 11 in Escalation of Anti-Drug Operations
WASHINGTON — A U.S. military operation in the Caribbean Sea on September 5, 2025, resulted in the sinking of a Venezuelan-flagged vessel suspected of drug trafficking, killing all 11 individuals on board, whom American officials identified as cartel members. The strike has ignited a fierce political and diplomatic firestorm, drawing accusations of excessive force and violations of international law.
The operation, described by the Pentagon as a counter-narcotics intervention, targeted a boat allegedly transporting a large shipment of fentanyl. In a statement, U.S. officials said the vessel was deemed a threat and failed to comply with orders to halt.
Vice President James David Vance forcefully defended the action, calling it a “vital and necessary strike” in the fight against fentanyl smuggling, which claims tens of thousands of American lives annually. “We will not stand idly by while criminal cartels flood our country with poison. This administration will use every tool at its disposal to protect our national security and our citizens,” he stated.
The response was immediate and polarized. Critics, led by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), condemned the operation as an unconstitutional act of war and a potential war crime. “Sinking a foreign ship and killing 11 people without a declaration of war is an egregious abuse of power. This is not law enforcement; it is an act of aggression that undermines international law,” Sen. Paul argued.
The incident has severely strained already tense relations between the United States and Venezuela. The Venezuelan government denounced the action as an “illegal and barbaric act of imperialism” and promised to bring the matter before the United Nations.
The event underscores the deep domestic divisions over the scope of U.S. military intervention and the legal and ethical boundaries of pursuing drug traffickers in international waters. The Biden administration faces mounting pressure from both sides, with supporters hailing the strike as a bold step for national security and critics demanding accountability and congressional oversight.
