US Attacks on Alleged Drug Trafficking Vessels in Caribbean Are Legal, Justice Department Says

The United States Department of Justice stated this Wednesday that the attacks carried out by the United States in the Caribbean against vessels of alleged drug traffickers are legal and that the military personnel responsible cannot be judicially pursued for them.

"The attacks were ordered in accordance with the laws of armed conflict and, as such, are lawful orders," said a spokesperson for the Department of Justice.

The military personnel tasked with executing the attack orders, which have left at least 76 people dead, are not at risk of being prosecuted, the spokesperson said.

"Military personnel are legally obligated to follow lawful orders and, as such, cannot be prosecuted," the spokesperson added.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Monday urged Washington to investigate the legality of the attacks against the alleged drug-carrying boats and said there were "strong indications" that they constitute "extrajudicial killings."

US armed forces have conducted a series of attacks in the Caribbean and the Pacific in recent weeks against vessels that, according to Washington, are transporting drugs.

The most recent one took place in the Pacific over the weekend and left six people dead, said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Department of Justice had drafted a classified report in July that establishes the legal basis for the attacks and protects participating personnel from future prosecutions.

The administration of President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress informing it that the United States is involved in an "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels, describing them as terrorist groups, as part of its justification for the attacks.

Turk, in an interview with AFP, said that operations against alleged drug traffickers should be "law enforcement operations," which are in turn subject to international human rights regulations.

In such cases, "the use of lethal force has to be extremely limited," Turk said. "It has to be the absolute last resort in the face of an immediate attack. That is not what we are seeing."

When asked if he believed the attacks could constitute extrajudicial killings, Turk said, "There are strong indications that they are, but it needs to be investigated."

The Trump administration has deployed significant military assets in this campaign against drug trafficking.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accused of drug trafficking in the United States, has claimed that the military buildup is part of a plot to overthrow him.