President Donald Trump declared, “There’s more where that came from,” following a military operation on September 2nd targeting a vessel allegedly loaded with narcotics and members of Tren de Aragua, a criminal group originating in Venezuela. He later reinforced the message on Truth Social, warning anyone considering drug trafficking into the United States: “BEWARE!” The strike has sparked debate over the legality and proportionality of using lethal force in anti-narcotics missions on international waters. Legal experts question whether such actions comply with international law, particularly regarding due process and the identification of suspects. While governments have broad authority to interdict illicit shipments, deliberately killing individuals suspected of drug-related activities at sea raises serious legal and ethical concerns. The incident underscores the tension between aggressive enforcement tactics and adherence to rule-of-law principles.
— news from The Economist
— News Original —
The dubious legality of killing drug suspects at sea
“There’s more where that came from,” said President Donald Trump, celebrating a military strike on September 2nd on a boat that he said was full of drugs and “narco-terrorists” from Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. He later added on Truth Social: “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”