Former President Donald Trump stated the ship was transporting narcotics from Venezuela
On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that the US had destroyed another ship in international waters, which was purportedly trafficking drugs from Venezuela.
Trump indicated the operation was part of his administration’s Caribbean initiative against cartels, which he asserts receive support from the Venezuelan government – an accusation Caracas refutes.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, the former president uploaded a video depicting the strike on a boat he characterized as being managed by “positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists.” He stated that three individuals lost their lives.
“BE WARNED – IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!” Trump’s post read.
This action comes after a September 2 strike, which, according to Trump, obliterated a similar vessel and resulted in 11 fatalities.
During Trump’s initial term, the US implemented sanctions against Venezuela and recently increased its reward to $50 million for intelligence leading to the apprehension of President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro has condemned the US military deployment near Venezuela’s coast, characterizing it as a scheme aimed at overthrowing him. Last week, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello declared that the nation was prepared for a “prolonged war” should an overt conflict erupt.