US Coast Guard Destroys Drug Trafficking Boat in Operation Pacific Viper

The United States Coast Guard recently achieved a significant victory in its fight against drug trafficking by detaining and subsequently destroying a drug-carrying vessel. In the September 2025 mission, code-named Operation Pacific Viper, near 13,000 pounds of cocaine were seized. Additionally, seven individuals suspected to be involved in drug smuggling were apprehended.

The operation started with a decisive action on September 2nd when U.S. military forces launched a missile attack on a recognised narco-terrorist speedboat in international waters, specifically the Caribbean Sea. The boat was reportedly crewed by eleven members of ‘Tren de Aragua’ (TdA), an organisation U.S law recognises as a terrorist group.

The high-speed vessel, originating from Venezuela and moving at high speed, was identified by U.S Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Rubio provided details of the operation, emphasizing that the attack took place in the Southern Caribbean. All crew members onboard the targeted vessel were killed in the missile attack, and the boat was completely destroyed.

September 15 marked another successful operation by U.S military forces, culminating in the destruction of a second boat tied to drug cartels. The emergence of TdA as a significant threat within the United States can be traced back to an influx of approximately 1.5 million Venezuelans migrating into the country during the preceding administration.

However, TdA is more than a drug gang practicing violent, mafia-esque tactics like seizing apartment complexes and participating in trafficking activities including guns, drugs, and human beings. It is also a tool for asymmetric warfare, demonstrating the concerning blend of both state and non-state actors, used by Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

Communication intercepts have shown TdA to be not just a group involved in illegal activities for profit but also acting as enforcers for Maduro’s government. They extend their operations beyond Venezuela, posing a potential threat to the entire hemisphere through their collaborations with cartels in Mexico and Colombia.

These partnerships yield frightening possibilities. Notably, certain Mexican cartels have allegedly been spotted in Ukraine, acquiring knowledge about first person view (FPV) drone warfare, drone manufacturing, electronic warfare, and realtime battlefield coordination. The objective of these activities is to eventually harness these lethal skills upon their return home.

Colombian cartels also seem to have found a training ground in Ukraine, converting the country into an unintentional training hub for some of the most perilous terrorists in the Western Hemisphere. This is another worrying aspect of the situation, that contributes to the escalating tension and anxiety.

Moreover, TdA, deemed a Designated Terroristic Organization, presents a unique and extraordinary menace to the United States’ national security, economy, and foreign policy. This inflammatory issue isn’t confined to U.S borders but extends to other nations across the Western Hemisphere.

The State Department reports that TdA is a transnational operation that has its roots in Venezuela. The organization has spread to other South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and Chile. There are fragmented reports of the group sporadically surfacing in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil.

In July 2025, TdA drew special attention from U.S authorities, and consequently, it was declared a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ organization under Executive Order 13224. This order specifically targets terrorist organizations and those who support them.

In the aftermath of the first successful military operation, it has become evident that a narco-trafficking drug cartel is in control of Venezuela. In response to this daunting threat, the United States has launched tactical strikes against boats operated by the said terrorist organization in international waters.

In the face of imminent danger to critical U.S. interests, these actions constitute necessary self-defense mechanisms. The American constitution provides the President, in his role as Commander in Chief, with the full authority to utilize military forces overseas in response to pressing national emergencies caused by impending threats to U.S. citizens and territories.

Discussion of the legality of these attacks under international law is likely perceived as a masked attempt to question the long-standing U.S. philosophy that permits self-defense against a use of force. According to the 1986 International Court of Justice ruling (para, 228) in Paramilitary Activities Case, any state organizing, encouraging, or participating in illegal use of force can be challenged.

It appears to many Americans that military intervention to counter drug traffickers is justified and overdue. A poll conducted in 2023 showed that 52% supported military action against Mexican cartels, while only 26% opposed. This sentiment was echoed by roughly two-thirds of Republican voters.

Interestingly, many Latin Americans also back the use of U.S. forces specifically against Maduro’s regime in Venezuela. These opinions probably indicate a shift in perceptions of legality and international law. Undoubtedly, as criminal activities escalate in intensity and scale, it has increasingly become a question of national security. The intensified danger to everyday life has people in the U.S and across the globe rightfully worried.