Pete Hegseth Claims Some Cartels Decided To Cease Drug-Trafficking Operations Due To Strikes In The Caribbean: 'WINNING'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said some cartels have decided to "cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY" as a result of strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean.

In a social media publication, Hegseth claimed the development is taking place in the Southern Command's area of responsibility. President Donald Trump is "SAVING" American lives," he added.

WINNING: Some top cartel drug-traffickers in the @SOUTHCOM AOR have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.This is deterrence through strength. @POTUS is SAVING American lives.

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 5, 2026

The U.S. has continued carrying out such operations in the region, even though they have decreased since the operation that captured Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro in early January.

The latest one took place in the eastern Pacific on Thursday, with the Southern Command claiming the boat was operated by a designated terrorist organization and traveling on "known narco-trafficking routes." Two people were killed in the strike.

The U.S. military has now conducted at least 36 strikes, hitting 38 vessels since operations began in early September. At least 128 people were killed in the attacks.

The Trump administration has told Congress it considers itself to be in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels and has labeled those killed as "unlawful combatants," citing a classified Justice Department finding that it says permits lethal action without judicial review.

The operation has drawn growing criticism from legal experts and lawmakers, particularly over a follow-up strike on Sept. 2 that killed two survivors of an initial attack, with several experts have said that second strike could constitute an extrajudicial killing under international law.

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