US carries out first known strike on alleged drug boat since Maduro’s capture

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 3 min read 100% complete January 24, 2026 at 12:23 AM

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On January 23, 2026, the U.S. military conducted a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean accused of drug trafficking. This is the first known strike since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier in the month. According to U.S. Southern Command, the boat was engaged in "narco-trafficking operations," resulting in two deaths and one survivor. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified to conduct search and rescue operations for the survivor. Since early September, there have been 36 known U.S. military strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters, resulting in at least 117 deaths.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Joint Base Andrews 30% Caribbean Sea 30% Coast Guard 40% Venezuela ×240% Pacific Ocean ×250% Donald Trump ×260% U.S. Southern Command ×370% United States ×680% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×290%

Keywords

drug trafficking 100% us military strike 90% narco-trafficking operations 80% venezuela 70% nicolás maduro 60% u.s. southern command 50% eastern pacific ocean 50% search and rescue 40%