Report: The Boat Accused of Carrying Drugs Wasn't Bound for the U.S.

Fresh information surrounding the controversial drug boat operation involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth casts serious doubt on the justification for the mission. CNN reports that the vessel targeted by the U.S. military on September 2, in a double tap strike that killed 11 people, was not actually en route to the United States.

U.S. Navy Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley, who oversaw the operation, informed lawmakers that the small boat was instead heading to meet a larger vessel bound for Suriname, located east of Venezuela, according to two sources familiar with his statements.

Bradley reportedly acknowledged that while it remained possible the cargo might have eventually reached the U.S., this tenuous reasoning raises serious questions about the strike that resulted in multiple fatalities.

Earlier, President Donald Trump stated that the September 2 attack occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States.

The U.S. military engaged the small boat to allegedly prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs to the U.S. After the initial strike, two survivors were seen clinging to debris, yet the military launched a second strike, killing everyone on board. In total, the boat was struck four times.

Defense Secretary Hegseth, who authorized the mission but appeared to shift accountability to Admiral Bradley, has faced widespread criticism for approving an attack that targeted survivors. Lawmakers and observers from across the political spectrum have condemned the operation as a potential war crime.

As additional details surface, the rationale for the deadly strike continues to weaken, leaving the official narrative increasingly inconsistent.

Author: Connor Blake