US has struck another alleged drug-smuggling boat, US Southern Command says

US Southern Command reported a "lethal kinetic strike" on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific on Friday. The US military immediately alerted the Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue operations for the three individuals involved. The Coast Guard recovered two deceased individuals and one survivor from the vessel. The survivor and the bodies were then transferred to the custody of the Costa Rican coast guard. The purpose of the strike was to disrupt drug-smuggling operations in the region.

The US military conducted a strike on an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific on [Date from article, if available, otherwise omit]. US Southern Command stated the vessel was traveling along known drug trafficking routes. Initially, the military reported three survivors, but the Coast Guard later confirmed only one person was rescued alive, while two others were found dead. The survivor and remains were transferred to the Costa Rican Coast Guard. This strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign targeting suspected drug trafficking boats that has resulted in at least 159 deaths across 46 incidents since September 2, 2025. It is uncommon for the US government to announce survivors in these operations.