US strikes 'drug-carrying submarine' as Donald Trump wages war on 'narcoterrorists'

The US President wrote: "It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route.

US intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics being transported by four known "narcoterrorists", according to Mr Trump.

He confirmed that two of the "terrorists" were killed.

The two other "terrorists", who come from Ecuador and Colombia, are being returned for "detention and prosecution", the President said.

He added: "At least 25,000 Americans would die if I allowed this submarine to come ashore.

No US Forces were harmed in the strike.

He concluded: "Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea."

The Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed they have received the Colombian detained on the narco submarine.

In a statement posted to X, the South American added: "We are happy he is alive and he will be processed according to the law."

The Trump administration has said previous strikes in the Caribbean have killed 27 people as they attempt to restrict the importing of illegal drugs.

The strikes also come against the backdrop of a US military buildup in the Caribbean that includes guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine, and around 6,500 troops as the US President escalates a standoff with the Venezuelan government.

Tensions between the US and Venezuela have escalated dramatically since President Trump entered the White House in January, with military strikes against the alleged "narco-terrorists" and Venezuelan military mobilisations.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump confirmed he had authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denied any connection to drug smuggling and claimed the US boat strikes are a pretext for regime change.

He claims the Trump administration is violating the sovereignty of Venezuela and breaking international law.

During his political campaigns and second term in the White House, President Trump has advocated for a more aggressive, militarised approach to the illegal drug industry.

Mr Trump declared that the US is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels he designated as "unlawful combatants".

He argued that the southern border was an "open sieve" for drug traffickers and applied pressure on neighbouring countries, Mexico, Canada, and China to do more to stop drug trafficking into the US.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter