The elections taking place in New Jersey, Virginia, California, and other locales this Tuesday night so far aren’t going the Republicans’ way, but that doesn’t mean the world stops. The news goes on.

And on Tuesday evening, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on social media that American forces have taken out another drug boat – their 16^th to date – and eliminated their 66^th suspected trafficker:

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO).

Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known… pic.twitter.com/OsQuHrYLMp

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 5, 2025

Hegseth’s post continues:

Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics. The strike was conducted in international waters in the Eastern Pacific.

No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, and two male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed.

We will find and terminate EVERY vessel with the intention of trafficking drugs to America to poison our citizens. Protecting the homeland is our TOP priority. NO cartel terrorist stands a chance against the American military.

America’s “war on drugs” has arguably been a decades-long failure, as China keeps the fentanyl coming and all manner of substances cross our southern border with regularity. Trump is taking a different approach, however: hit 'em where it hurts. This of course has triggered those on the left, who accuse him of violations of international law and extra-judicial proceedings, but that doesn’t seem to have slowed down either the president or Hegseth.

MORE: Oh, No. The War Powers Posse Comes After President Trump Over His Attacks on Drug Cartels

US Forces Destroy Drug Running Submersible and Take First Drug War Prisoners

It’s the administration’s 16^th operation in recent months:

Two suspected drug smugglers on a vessel were killed during a U.S. military drone strike, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday. 

The “lethal kinetic strike” was ordered by President Donald Trump and conducted in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), Hegseth said. 

The strike is the 16th since Trump began targeting drug smuggling boats suspected of transporting illegal drugs into the United States.

At least 66 suspected narco-terrorists have been killed in the strikes and three survived.

Trump has significantly upped the pressure on Venezuela and its dictator, Nicolás Maduro, and has also been active in calling out the South American nation of Colombia and its president, Gustavo Petro, as well. He's decided he's not going to sit idly by and watch the seemingly endless flow of hardcore drugs from those countries onto our streets.

The argument over the legality of these operations will continue, but in the meantime, I would advise you not to travel in any fast boats of the coast of Venezuela anytime soon: 

The U.S. military has increased its presence across the Caribbean, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called “narco-terrorist” networks operating near Venezuela.

 The Trump administration has created a new counter-narcotics Joint Task Force operating near the U.S. Southern Command in an effort “to crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe.”

 The task force will coordinate air, maritime and special-operations missions across the region — marking the largest U.S. military effort in the Caribbean in decades.

Lethal and ready: A look at U.S. military forces deployed to the Caribbean in support of the #SOUTHCOM mission, @DeptofWar-directed operations, and @POTUS' priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. @NAVSOUS4THFLT @MARFORSOUTH @SecWar @USNavy @USMC pic.twitter.com/Hmzs0k31OD

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) October 31, 2025

Stay nervous, drug traffickers. You have every reason to be. 

Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.

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