Operation Southern Spear drug interdiction campaign
The developments in this story so far, most recent first.
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Development
Senator Kaine claims US boat strikes likely killed non-traffickers
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· date approximate Follow-up
Trump DEA admits Hegseth’s 67 deadly drug boat strikes have not stopped cocaine from flooding into the US: report
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· date approximate Background
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at a Senate hearing that the Defense Department determined the strikes' legality.
During a Senate hearing in June 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Department of Defense had determined the legality of the strikes conducted as part of Operation Southern Spear. Rubio noted that the decisions made by the Defense Department were based on intelligence information.
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· date approximate Background
US Coast Guard personnel intercepted 3,715 pounds of cocaine, the largest bust by a small-boat station in 30 years.
No separate article for this desk or language yet.
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· date approximate Background
Operation Southern Spear began.
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· date approximate Background
The boat strikes in the Pacific and Caribbean began.
In September 2025, strikes against boats in the Pacific and Caribbean began. According to Senator Tim Kaine, these operations have likely resulted in the deaths of individuals not involved in narcotrafficking and characterized some strike targets as murder victims.
The Trump administration has stated that these strikes are directed against designated narcoterrorists as part of unprecedented action to stop narcoterrorism. However, the administration also admitted that the airstrikes targeting drug trafficking boats have not slowed the flow of cocaine into the United States, as traffickers have adapted by using planes, larger boats, and sailing close to coastlines to avoid the strikes.
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· date approximate Background
A July directive (the EXORD) was issued.
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· date approximate Background
The most recent strike occurred, marking the longest break since the campaign started.
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· date approximate Background
US Customs and Border Protection and Coast Guard personnel intercepted 1,535 pounds of cocaine.
No separate article for this desk or language yet.