The United States continues to execute lethal military attacks in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean targeting alleged drug smuggling boats, a campaign that has killed 126 people and created widespread fear among Colombian fishermen who depend on offshore fishing for their livelihoods. While President Trump claims these operations have stopped 97% of illegal drugs entering the U.S. by water, border seizure data showing a 34% increase in cocaine interdictions suggests smugglers are simply adapting their methods and routes.
Ben Stechschulte, a Florida board-certified criminal trial lawyer with experience defending drug smuggling cases, expressed skepticism about the campaign's effectiveness during an interview with NPR. "I don't think it has any deterrent effect," said Stechschulte, founder and lead attorney of StechLaw Criminal Defense. "The drug cartels understand it's the cost of doing business." He explained that traffickers typically replace lost vessels and establish new entry routes when disrupted.
Security analyst Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America reinforced this assessment, noting that most drug boats unload in South America before narcotics are transported overland into the United States. This reality undermines the strategic premise of naval interdiction efforts. Despite mounting casualties and disruption to legitimate maritime industries, President Trump has shown no indication of halting the bombing campaign.
The human cost extends beyond smugglers to include Colombian fishing communities whose access to traditional fishing grounds has been compromised by military operations. Fishermen report feeling uncertain and afraid to venture to sea, threatening both food security and economic stability in coastal regions. Meanwhile, the persistent flow of narcotics suggests cartels continue to operate profitably despite U.S. military pressure.
Experts argue the campaign illustrates fundamental flaws in supply-side drug enforcement strategies. As Stechschulte observed, cartels treat vessel losses as operational expenses rather than existential threats, maintaining profitability through adaptation. The Washington Office on Latin America's research, accessible at https://www.wola.org, documents how trafficking networks consistently evolve to circumvent enforcement measures. This pattern raises questions about whether continued naval attacks represent sound policy or merely symbolic action with substantial collateral damage.
