On Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk announced that US military airstrikes targeting boats suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean and Pacific violate international human rights laws. He called for an immediate end to these operations, which have resulted in over 60 deaths since early September.
Türk stated, “These attacks—and their growing human toll—are unacceptable. The US must stop such strikes and do everything possible to prevent extrajudicial killings of individuals on these boats, regardless of the alleged crimes.”
These military actions mark a major shift from the usual practices of the US. Traditionally, the Coast Guard intercepted suspected drug vessels, while a strike force known as “Panama Express” was responsible for investigating and prosecuting drug cases. However, the Justice Department has disbanded this Reagan-era task force and transferred ongoing cases to a new Homeland Security Task Force.
The US government claims that these actions are necessary anti-drug and counter-terrorism measures that comply with international humanitarian law. However, Türk argues that fighting against illegal drug trafficking is primarily a law enforcement issue, which must adhere to the strict guidelines on lethal force set by international human rights law.
He emphasized, “Under international human rights law, lethal force can only be used as a last resort against people who pose an imminent threat to life.” Türk further noted that, based on limited information from US officials, “none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to be an immediate danger to others.”
Since early September, the US military has conducted at least 14 strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The Pentagon has released minimal information about these targets but has acknowledged that some victims include individuals from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Senator Peter Welch from Vermont, are demanding that the Department of Justice provide all legal opinions that justify the strikes. During a Senate speech, Welch raised concerns about the legality of these military actions and urged Congress to affirm its constitutional power regarding decisions about war.
“Laws matter, and the Constitution matters. If the President intends to start a war or put American troops at risk, he must seek Congress’s approval,” Welch said. “It’s the Senate’s job to do its part.”
A letter from the senators, signed by all Democratic members of the committee, including Ranking Member Dick Durbin, stated that “killing criminal suspects without due process is prohibited under both domestic and international law, whether in peace or war.”
Amnesty International labeled the strikes as “illegal” in a statement released on Wednesday and urged Congress to stop any further bombings. “In the last two months, the U.S. military's Southern Command has engaged in what can only be described as a murder spree by following the illegal orders of the Trump administration,” said Daphne Eviatar, Director for Human Rights and Security at Amnesty International USA.
The organization pointed out that Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the US had the ability to intercept the first boat but opted to bomb it instead.
Welch also questioned the administration’s commitment to combating drug trafficking, pointing out that funding for domestic treatment programs has been cut while billions are allocated for military operations in Venezuela. “Why are we spending billions in Venezuela while reducing funds for treatment programs here that have proven effective in helping Americans struggling with fentanyl and other drug addictions?” Welch asked.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has deployed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Southern Command region to “bolster operations against transnational criminal organizations.” This deployment adds to the already busy Caribbean, which is filled with US destroyers, a nuclear submarine, and fighter jets.
Türk has called for swift, independent, and transparent investigations into the attacks and urged the US Government to comply with international laws, including relevant counter-narcotics treaties. He encouraged authorities to continue using established law enforcement methods, such as legally intercepting boats and detaining suspects according to criminal law standards.