In a recent statement, President Donald Trump mentioned that the US will repatriate two individuals who survived an attack on what he described as a “drug-carrying submarine”. These individuals will be returned to their home countries, Ecuador and Colombia.
On social media, Trump reported that two people lost their lives during the US strike on the submarine, which intelligence sources claim was filled mainly with fentanyl and other illegal substances.
This incident, which took place last Thursday, is at least the sixth US strike against vessels linked to Venezuela in recent times. Surprisingly, this is the first occasion where survivors have been noted.
According to reports from the administration, prior attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 individuals in the waters near Venezuela.
US officials confirmed that the survivors were extracted by a military helicopter and subsequently transported to a naval ship in the Caribbean.
In the weeks leading up to this event, Trump has intensified his rhetoric regarding Venezuela’s leadership, accusing them of trafficking drugs into the United States. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused Trump of attempting to turn his country into an “American colony.”
Trump has openly justified the ongoing strikes on boats, claiming they are essential for combating drug trafficking from Latin America to the US. However, detailed evidence or identities of the affected vessels and individuals onboard have not been provided by his government.
“It was a great honor for me to destroy a rather large drug-carrying submarine that was en route to the United States along a notorious drug trafficking path,” Trump expressed on his Truth Social account on Saturday.
He also emphasized that the two survivors, described as “terrorists,” will face prosecution in their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.
According to Trump, no US military personnel sustained injuries during the strike, and he previously stated that the submarine targeted in this latest operation was designed specifically for transporting hefty quantities of drugs.
“This wasn’t just an innocent group; not everyone owns a submarine,” Trump added, maintaining his firm stance on the operation against the drug-laden submarine.
Experts on human rights appointed by the UN have labeled these US attacks as “extrajudicial executions.” Furthermore, Trump indicated that he had sanctioned the CIA to carry out covert missions within Venezuela and was even contemplating launching strikes on Venezuelan soil.
Homemade drug submarines, often constructed using fiberglass and plywood, have seemingly gained popularity as a means of transporting narcotics undetected. Upon delivery, these makeshift crafts can be scuttled to erase evidence. It’s noted that the US and other coastal nations have successfully intercepted some of these vessels in the past.
