U.S. Military Expands Strikes in the Caribbean, Killing at Least Sixty-One

What Happened?

U.S. military strikes conducted against alleged drug vessels were expanded during the past week, bringing the total killed in those strikes to sixty-one. The Trump Administration briefed several Republican Senators on the details of those strikes this week, also indicating that more strikes could be expected in the Caribbean soon against suspected drug-carrying vessels.

The United Nations human rights chief condemned U.S. military strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific, saying the lethal attacks violated international law, calling them ‘extrajudicial killings.’ The strikes have also generated criticism from U.S. Senator Rand Paul, who described the attacks as extrajudicial killings as well.

Why it Matters

The expanded strikes on at least a dozen alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean are part of the Trump Administration’s more aggressive policy towards illicit drug trafficking. The strikes have divided opinion in the Caribbean, with countries like Venezuela opposing them while leaders from Trinibago have openly supported the actions. 

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, most illicit drugs entering the United States through the southern border with Mexico arrive by vehicles such as trucks and cars. Drug traffickers have become skilled at building false compartments, duplicate gas tanks, and other similar ways of hiding illegal drugs in commercial vehicles. Cargo infiltration is also a major problem, where legal commercial goods are often used as cover to mix in illegal drug containers. 

Because thousands of vehicles cross the border into the United States each day through legal ports of entry from Mexico, it is impossible to inspect all of them. At least ninety-five percent of vehicles entering the U.S. are not inspected by law enforcement agencies, either Mexican or American. The land option is the cheapest, most used, and most effective way drug traffickers move illicit drugs into the United States. While drug cartels also ship drugs by boat and airplane, the volume of shipments moved that way is small compared to land vehicles. 

Since drug traffickers primarily use land vehicles to move their illicit cargo, the effectiveness of drone strikes on seaborne vessels in stopping the drug trade is questionable. The Trump Administration believes they have sufficient evidence to legally back up their strikes on suspected drug boats, but that doesn’t explain how destroying drug boats will stop illegal drugs from entering the country when most come in by land.

How it Affects You

Stopping any illegal drugs from entering the U.S. is a good thing, but the risk is that the Trump Administration will see successful military action against drug boats as more effective than it really is overall. Drug cartels have found ways to move their illicit products in the face of military action before, and it is likely they will do so again, so long as demand for those drugs remains high.