https://taskandpurpose.com/news/drug-boat-southern-caribbean/
The US military released a video showing a missile strike on an alleged drug boat from Venezuela, killing 11 people.

This leaves a few questions for me
1. How did they know it was a drug boat? I would assume they did their homework diligently but what if it wasn't? (rhetorical question)
2. Was a drug boat really worth a missile that cost as much as a nice new car? (Hellfire II missiles ranges from $45,000 and up from what I read)
3. Why not try and stop them? If they shoot at out troops then blow them out of the water but if they give up then mission accomplished. (The coast guard routinely shoots the motors of the boats to make them step when they don't want to so it is something they are easily capable of doing)

I can see the argument for being blown up as a deterrent but drug cartel leaders aren't going to care, they expect to lose a certain percentage of shipments, its baked into their profit margins.

I worked with JIATF-W (under PACOM) at Camp Smith.  JIATF-S (under USCENTCOM) is in FL.  The year before I joined, JIATF-W's resources were partially relocated from CA to HI and was segregated into the interdiction mission remaining in CA, and the INTEL and Law Enforcement mission moving the Camp Smith.

We work with the FBI, NCIS, DEA, DHS, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines plus police and military agencies all around the Pacific Rim including the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and pretty much every country where drugs and precursors originate or are shipped to.

Sometimes the shipments are precursors (raw ingredients/chemicals) used to produce drugs like meth or X, but cocaine is a product that stands alone. 

The units have a vast intelligence, surveillance and law enforcement network.  The information they gather is often in the public domain, but the intel products they generate  using all manner of sources are classified.  Therefore, don't hold your breath waiting for an A to Z map explaining how a specific operation was executed.

If you REALLY wanted to know more, just do some searches for JIATF West & JIATF South.  That's the best place to start educating yourself on the massive drug enforcement, confiscation and interdiction program the US operates in and around US waters and borders.  One of my first jobs was to digitize a large tape library that held recordings of interdiction missions where US planes, choppers and boats intercepted drugs being smuggled into the US.aa

As of August 28, 2025, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) has supported the disruption of 402.7 metric tons (MT) of cocaine, surpassing the previous record of 328.4 MT set on July 4, 2025, and preventing approximately 334 billion lethal doses from reaching American communities. This achievement shows how JIATF-S has grown into an effective, intelligence-driven maritime security force that protects the homeland through strong partnerships. Building on our role as the leading example of interagency and international cooperation, JIATF-S has used improved capabilities and international partnerships to focus on increasingly complex criminal organizations with greater accuracy. This record reflects our commitment to innovation and staying ahead of changing threats, establishing JIATF-S as a critical part of regional security while maintaining focus on the ongoing mission ahead.

This accomplishment is thanks to the dedication of this team of teams including U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Defense, U.S. Federal Agencies, and dedicated allies and partners! This achievement leverages the effectiveness of interagency collaboration. The $10 Bil+ loss inflicted on cartels, coupled with the removal of 334 Bil+ lethal doses, enhances community and national security.

From a psychological warfare perspective it was a smash hit. Now the cartels have to change up their entire business model for something far less profitable, but the real victory is that the looney left took the bait and are defending the cartels, completely isolating themselves from the mainstream.

as long as there is demand there will be a suppliers

as long as there is demand there will be a suppliers

Look at where fentanyl comes from. It’s a chemical weapon being used against us by hostile countries. Without the industrially manufactured precursors it would dry up nearly overnight.

From a psychological warfare perspective it was a smash hit. Now the cartels have to change up their entire business model for something far less profitable, but the real victory is that the looney left took the bait and are defending the cartels, completely isolating themselves from the mainstream.

I saw an interview with a reporter who talks to the cartels.  Since Trump was re-elected, their motto is that they have to just wait 4 years.  What also was talked about was if the US military invaded Mexico to attack them.  Their reply was that they have nothing to lose and will fight to the death.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/drug-boat-southern-caribbean/
The US military released a video showing a missile strike on an alleged drug boat from Venezuela, killing 11 people.

This leaves a few questions for me
1. How did they know it was a drug boat? I would assume they did their homework diligently but what if it wasn't? (rhetorical question)
2. Was a drug boat really worth a missile that cost as much as a nice new car? (Hellfire II missiles ranges from $45,000 and up from what I read)
3. Why not try and stop them? If they shoot at out troops then blow them out of the water but if they give up then mission accomplished. (The coast guard routinely shoots the motors of the boats to make them step when they don't want to so it is something they are easily capable of doing)

I can see the argument for being blown up as a deterrent but drug cartel leaders aren't going to care, they expect to lose a certain percentage of shipments, its baked into their profit margins.

I would say a drug boat is worth more than a hell fire cost.  If an innocent life can be saved due to not coming in contact with the drugs, then it's fine in my book. Innocent as in a 5 year old ingest a drug their parent left on the table. Not some tweeker ODing.  Those people are not "innocent".  Then add in the tweekers stealing from people, possible DUI's, and assaults/murders.  If 1 innocent can be spared, it's worth it.

Why not shoot them, maybe no ship was near enough. The cartels often take routes that there are less/no ships.  Faster to launch an aircraft.

How do they know it's a drug boat, I will assume they have very good intel. Plus fast movers don't appear out of no where.  I will assume we have satelites that track where the ship launched from.

Maybe the cartels will do what Hamas does and begin using human shields on their ships.  The left loves to ignore the root cause of human shields.

I would say a drug boat is worth more than a hell fire cost.  If an innocent life can be saved due to not coming in contact with the drugs, then it's fine in my book. Innocent as in a 5 year old ingest a drug their parent left on the table. Not some tweeker ODing.  Those people are not "innocent".  Then add in the tweekers stealing from people, possible DUI's, and assaults/murders.  If 1 innocent can be spared, it's worth it.

Why not shoot them, maybe no ship was near enough. The cartels often take routes that there are less/no ships.  Faster to launch an aircraft.

How do they know it's a drug boat, I will assume they have very good intel. Plus fast movers don't appear out of no where.  I will assume we have satelites that track where the ship launched from.

Maybe the cartels will do what Hamas does and begin using human shields on their ships.  The left loves to ignore the root cause of human shields.

More than half the time, there's information on when to expect a shipment, where it's launching from, where it's heading, and what contraband is on board.

Sometimes they are simply noticed by marine traffic or military vessels and reported.  An intercept will be ordered.  When the boat refuses to stop and tries to evade, it's a good guess they are either smuggling drugs or people ... sometimes both.

Drug smugglers follow patterns that legitimate vessels do not.  It's not rocket science.  No different than a cop rolling up on a drug deal involving a known dealer in a known drug-sales area at a time when most legitimate activity has ceased for the night.

Maybe they had insurance on the boat..

From a psychological warfare perspective it was a smash hit. Now the cartels have to change up their entire business model for something far less profitable, but the real victory is that the looney left took the bait and are defending the cartels, completely isolating themselves from the mainstream.

I don't really see them defending cartels so much as being upset at essentially summary execution for drug crimes.

I doubt the cartels will change their model much. They don't care if they lose a shipment to a missile or a seizure.

As far as fentanyl being a chemical weapon being used against us you are half right. It is strong enough to be akin to a chemical weapon but we (American drug users) are using it on ourselves. Thats like blaming the liquor store if I kill my liver drinking too much.

I would say a drug boat is worth more than a hell fire cost.  If an innocent life can be saved due to not coming in contact with the drugs, then it's fine in my book. Innocent as in a 5 year old ingest a drug their parent left on the table. Not some tweeker ODing.  Those people are not "innocent".  Then add in the tweekers stealing from people, possible DUI's, and assaults/murders.  If 1 innocent can be spared, it's worth it.

Why not shoot them, maybe no ship was near enough. The cartels often take routes that there are less/no ships.  Faster to launch an aircraft.

How do they know it's a drug boat, I will assume they have very good intel. Plus fast movers don't appear out of no where.  I will assume we have satelites that track where the ship launched from.

Maybe the cartels will do what Hamas does and begin using human shields on their ships.  The left loves to ignore the root cause of human shields.

There is a certain logic to arguing that the drug mule's actions are worth less than the life of the people who are hurt directly or indirectly by the drugs they bring but it isn't one or the other. If it were then local cops could execute someone dealing drugs on the street corner. Kind of like the moral dilema posed in the way law enforcement stopped Bonnie & Clyde.

I do give the intelligence agencies the benefit of the doubt in this case but they have made mistakes in the past so I am hesitant so go with a lethal attack if less lethal avenues were an option. If the boat was about to get away and there way no way to find it once lost then I could see it as an option to consider.

I don't really see them defending cartels so much as being upset at essentially summary execution for drug crimes.

I doubt the cartels will change their model much. They don't care if they lose a shipment to a missile or a seizure.

As far as fentanyl being a chemical weapon being used against us you are half right. It is strong enough to be akin to a chemical weapon but we (American drug users) are using it on ourselves. Thats like blaming the liquor store if I kill my liver drinking too much.

That's a perfect example of how the script writers at MSNBC think. Trying to stop crime is pointless and cruel so we should just let the world burn.

There is a certain logic to arguing that the drug mule's actions are worth less than the life of the people who are hurt directly or indirectly by the drugs they bring but it isn't one or the other. If it were then local cops could execute someone dealing drugs on the street corner. Kind of like the moral dilema posed in the way law enforcement stopped Bonnie & Clyde.

I do give the intelligence agencies the benefit of the doubt in this case but they have made mistakes in the past so I am hesitant so go with a lethal attack if less lethal avenues were an option. If the boat was about to get away and there way no way to find it once lost then I could see it as an option to consider.

A drug mules life is worth less.  The USA could wipe out the cartels if they wanted to, but they don't.  We invaded Iraq (OIF) for much less and set precedent for invading and starting a war.

Cops and the military operate with different set of laws/rules.  You should know that.  But, I would be OK if drug dealers were executed if they were found guilty in court.  There is no moral dilemma, cops are allowed to shoot if they feel there is a threat.  You again should know this.

I don't really see them defending cartels so much as being upset at essentially summary execution for drug crimes.

Just wait. The President of Mexico has been doing so already for a few weeks now.

Maybe they had insurance on the boat..

All of my guns were on that boat. 

All of my guns were on that boat. 

...
 

That's a perfect example of how the script writers at MSNBC think. Trying to stop crime is pointless and cruel so we should just let the world burn.

Quite the leap in reasoning there.

Quite the leap in reasoning there.

Have you checked the crime stats in DC since the national guard was deployed?

Because that’s what the left is protesting against.

Their plans to reconstruct civilization into a socialist utopia only work if the old order is completely destroyed.

For them the ends justify the means, no matter how much suffering it causes the peasants.

A drug mules life is worth less.  The USA could wipe out the cartels if they wanted to, but they don't.  We invaded Iraq (OIF) for much less and set precedent for invading and starting a war.

Cops and the military operate with different set of laws/rules.  You should know that.  But, I would be OK if drug dealers were executed if they were found guilty in court.  There is no moral dilemma, cops are allowed to shoot if they feel there is a threat.  You again should know this.

We could wipe out drug cartels if we wanted to? Historical wars against guerilla level forces in the past suggest otherwise.

Of course the military and cops operate under different sets of laws/rule, I am not suggesting otherwise. The issue is taking lives for something entirely different than war or terrorism type actions. If the Taliban is sneaking a dirty nuke in on a boat blow them to hell, it is a military force coming to harm us. Even if we were to assume that intelligence was right and that these were drug runners on a drug boat destined for America, they aren't a hostile military type force.

We have a lot of experience intercepting drug boats, it is a mission we know we can accomplish without resorting to bombing the boat and taking the lives of low level mules.

If the logic is that drugs are so dangerous that they must be stopped even by taking life then that logic should allow police to execute drug dealers in the country too. If not then the logic doesn't hold water.