In the Pacific, United States forces destroyed a drug-laden vessel; two suspected narco-terrorists were killed in an operation authorized by Pete Hegseth.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday the destruction of a vessel linked to drug trafficking and operated by an organization designated as terrorist in the Eastern Pacific.
The lethal action, authorized by President Donald Trump, took place in international waters and marks the first operation of its kind in the Pacific, following seven previous interventions in the Caribbean Sea.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported on social media that the mission was based on intelligence identifying the vessel as part of a regular drug smuggling route. During the strike, two suspected narco-terrorists aboard were killed, while no U.S. personnel were harmed.
“Both terrorists were eliminated, and no U.S. forces were injured during this action,” Hegseth stated, emphasizing that the operation reflects the United States’ policy of offering no refuge to those attempting to transport drugs into the country.
According to the official, the vessel was carrying narcotics and was navigating a corridor recognized by U.S. agencies as a frequent trafficking route.
The Pentagon chief warned that cartels combining drug trafficking and terrorism are waging “a war against our border and our people,” reiterating that Washington seeks a direct and decisive response to these organizations. “There will be no refuge or pardon, only justice,” Hegseth affirmed.
Earlier today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on yet another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Eastern Pacific.
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 29, 2025
This vessel, like all the others, was known by our… pic.twitter.com/mBOLA5RYQe
The White House explained that these actions fall under the “armed conflict” against drug cartels, relying on the same legal framework that authorized the post-9/11 counterterrorism offensive.
This operation adds to reinforced surveillance of strategic routes in the Pacific and the Caribbean, aligned with U.S. efforts to weaken transnational criminal organizations and strengthen national security.
Two crew members who survived a previous operation were repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia. Ecuadorian authorities reported that one, Andrés Fernando Tufiño, was released due to lack of evidence of any crime in his country. Upon arrival, Tufiño underwent medical evaluations that detected no serious injuries from the incident.
Operations like this aim to neutralize vessels linked to narcotics and terrorism before they approach United States waters, ensuring preventive action against transnational threats. Hegseth highlighted that U.S. intelligence had previously identified the vessel’s connection to illicit activities and terrorist-designated organizations.
The strike in the Pacific reinforces the U.S. administration’s stance to take decisive action against any attempt to transport drugs into national territory. It also serves as a warning to criminal networks operating on international routes, demonstrating the U.S. capability to act precisely in international waters without risking personnel. Pete Hegseth concluded that this policy will continue, combining military operations with surveillance and international coordination to protect national security and steadily weaken cartels operating in the Pacific and other strategic regions.
