• Dominican Republic seizes 377 packages of cocaine from a speedboat destroyed by the U.S. Navy.
• This operation marks the first joint anti-drug effort between the two nations in Caribbean waters.
• The speedboat was carrying approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine intended for U.S. markets.
• Concerns over legality and human rights violations are being raised regarding the U.S. military strikes.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have announced the recovery of 377 packages of cocaine from a speedboat destroyed by the U.S. Navy, asserting this operation as a historic joint effort against narcotics trafficking. The boat, said to be carrying 1,000 kilograms (over 2,200 pounds) of cocaine, was intercepted around 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata. The National Directorate for Drug Control (NDCD) emphasized that this marks the first collaborative anti-drug operation between the Dominican Republic and the United States in Caribbean waters, highlighting their shared commitment to combating narco-terrorism in the region, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

The operation is part of a larger U.S. anti-drug initiative, which included the deployment of eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean. The U.S. Coast Guard stated that these military actions aim to disrupt drug trafficking routes used by cartels. The White House has reported successfully destroying a total of three vessels believed to be engaged in drug smuggling, further intensifying military presence in the area, as reported by Newsweek and Al Jazeera.

While officials celebrate the operation's success, human rights advocates have raised concerns regarding the legality of such military strikes. Critics argue that these actions may constitute extrajudicial killings, leading to serious ethical questions about the operations. In response, some Democratic senators have pushed for a resolution in Congress aimed at curbing the use of military force against non-state actors without explicit legislative approval, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

Additonally, the tension between the U.S. and Venezuela has increased as the Trump administration has linked many destroyed vessels to drug trafficking operations originating from Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has denounced U.S. actions as military aggression, accusing it of conducting unlawful strikes. This geopolitical tension further complicates the landscape of drug enforcement in the region, reflecting broader international dynamics surrounding narcotics trafficking, reported by Newsweek and Al Jazeera.