Trump Repatriates Survivors from Drug Submarine Strike

President Donald Trump announced on September 30, 2023, that two survivors of a military operation targeting a drug-carrying submarine will be sent to Ecuador and Colombia for prosecution. The U.S. military destroyed the submarine on September 28, as it was navigating towards American waters on a known narcotrafficking route. According to Trump, intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transporting fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States.” He emphasized that U.S. intelligence had verified the cargo contained primarily fentanyl, which poses a significant threat to public health. The military strike resulted in the deaths of two of the four individuals aboard the submarine, which Trump labeled as “known narcoterrorists.” Importantly, no U.S. forces were reported injured during the operation.

The president claimed that the submarine’s cargo could have been lethal to at least 25,000 Americans had it reached the shore. The surviving suspects will face legal proceedings in their respective home countries. Trump reiterated his administration’s stance, stating, “Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea.”

This operation marks the sixth strike by U.S. military forces in the region since early September, as part of a broader campaign against drug cartels. Reports indicate that these military actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 29 individuals. Trump has justified these strikes by declaring an “armed conflict” with drug trafficking organizations, invoking legal authority similar to that used by the Bush administration after the September 11 attacks when it declared a war on terrorism.

The decision to repatriate the survivors raises questions about their legal status under the U.S. justice system, a topic that remains unaddressed in the current discourse. As the situation develops, the implications of these military actions continue to resonate within the context of U.S. drug policy and international relations.