Reports indicate that former President Donald Trump and his administration prioritized lethal action against drug traffickers in the Western Hemisphere, initiating these efforts soon after assuming office. Over the subsequent ten months, the administration reportedly disregarded legal concerns raised by government lawyers regarding the policy’s legality. This pursuit of lethal strikes involved the repeated overruling or circumventing of legal counsel within the government. Multiple current and former officials have confirmed the details of these internal debates.
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Colombian Navy divers discovered a significant cocaine seizure beneath a ship destined for Europe. During an underwater inspection, they found seven sealed bags containing over 450 pounds of suspected cocaine. This operation follows a recent confiscation of over seven tons of drugs from other vessels in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. has placed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, criticizing his handling of drug cartels, while Petro maintains the U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats have resulted in civilian casualties.
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Former Olympian Ryan Wedding faces indictment on charges of murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking related to a massive criminal enterprise. Authorities accuse Wedding of importing 60 metric tons of cocaine annually, generating billions in profit, and orchestrating the murder of a U.S. federal witness in Colombia. The FBI has added Wedding to the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, offering a $15 million reward for his capture. The investigation, named “Operation Giant Slalom,” involves multiple agencies and seeks to dismantle Wedding’s network.
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US Southern Command announced on Sunday its 21st strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was engaged in narcotics smuggling along a known trafficking route. This latest strike brings the total number of individuals killed in these operations to 83. The campaign, intended to disrupt drug flow into the US, has faced criticism, with some allies like the UK and Colombia halting intelligence sharing over concerns of legality.
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The U.S. military conducted its 20th strike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in four fatalities and raising the total death toll from these operations to 80 since September. The U.S. Southern Command confirmed the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling. Simultaneously, the Trump administration is expanding its military presence in the region with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, solidifying its ongoing mission, Operation Southern Spear. While the administration claims the buildup is focused on stopping drug flow, concerns arise, with some suggesting this is an intimidation tactic against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces accusations of narcoterrorism.
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John Q. Hosedrinker