BREAKING: The Dominican Republic has successfully recovered 377 packages of cocaine from a speedboat destroyed by the U.S. Navy in a dramatic operation conducted 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata. This urgent development is part of a larger, controversial anti-narcotics mission launched by the Trump administration in the southern Caribbean.
Authorities from the Dominican Republic’s National Directorate for Drug Control confirmed the seizure, stating the speedboat was reportedly transporting 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and was attempting to use the Dominican Republic as a “bridge” for drug trafficking to the United States.
“This is the first time in history that the United States and the Dominican Republic have carried out a joint operation against narco-terrorism in the Caribbean,” the directorate announced in a press conference. The operation comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with the U.S. sending a flotilla of eight warships and a submarine to combat drug trafficking.
In the ongoing operations, the U.S. Navy has reportedly destroyed three speedboats linked to drug smuggling, resulting in the deaths of more than a dozen people aboard those vessels. Human rights groups are raising alarms, labeling these strikes as extrajudicial killings. In response, two Democratic senators have introduced a resolution in Congress aimed at halting further military actions.
The White House has linked at least two of the destroyed boats to Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, whom U.S. officials accuse of being a key player in drug trafficking operations, specifically the notorious Cartel of the Suns. Maduro has vehemently denied these allegations, describing the U.S. naval presence as an aggressive move against his country.
As this situation continues to develop, the international community is watching closely. The implications of these operations raise critical questions about the balance between combating drug trafficking and ensuring human rights are respected.
Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent story as more information becomes available. The impact of these actions could resonate throughout the region, affecting not only drug trafficking but also diplomatic relations between the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
