President Donald Trump announced that a U.S. military operation destroyed a drug submarine in the Caribbean this week. The strike, part of ongoing anti-narcotics missions, killed two suspected traffickers and captured two others. Trump said the drug submarine carried large amounts of fentanyl and other narcotics bound for the United States. He claimed the mission could have prevented up to 25,000 overdose deaths.
Speaking on Truth Social, Trump described the strike as a “great victory” for American forces. He said intelligence confirmed the vessel was transporting fentanyl along a well-known drug route. Trump said U.S. forces targeted the drug submarine with a drone strike after detecting it in international waters. They captured two surviving suspects from Ecuador and Colombia and prepared their transfer to home countries for prosecution.
Officials confirmed the operation took place Thursday near the Caribbean coast, where U.S. forces have stepped up interdiction efforts. Trump said the drug submarine was one of several vessels built to transport narcotics underwater to evade radar. The president shared video footage showing a drone strike and debris scattered across the sea.
The announcement marks the sixth U.S. interdiction of a drug submarine or smuggling vessel since operations expanded last month. Trump first mentioned the mission publicly during a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more details would follow, noting that coordination with regional governments remains active.
Military analysts view the strike as a sign of intensified U.S. pressure on transnational narcotics networks. Moreover, retired officers said the use of drones reflects Washington’s growing reliance on precision operations over conventional patrols. They added that the campaign also signals deeper engagement in the Caribbean, an area long used for trafficking routes.
Earlier this week, Trump authorized increased CIA activity in the region, while Air Force patrols flew near Venezuelan waters. He emphasized that the broader campaign demonstrates America’s resolve to confront narco-terrorism at its source. Additionally, the administration continues to describe the fight against fentanyl as a national security issue, linking it to rising overdose deaths nationwide.
As operations continue, the Pentagon has not disclosed the mission’s name or further details about its scope. However, senior officials indicated that U.S. naval assets will remain deployed for surveillance and interdiction. Meanwhile, the White House said more updates will follow as intelligence agencies assess the strike’s full impact.
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