Trump Sends Survivors of Drug Submarine Strike to Face Justice

President Donald Trump announced on September 30, 2023, that two survivors from a military strike on a drug-carrying submarine will be repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia for prosecution. This decision follows a successful operation by the U.S. military that destroyed the vessel on September 28 as it approached American waters along a known narcotrafficking route.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that U.S. intelligence confirmed the submarine was transporting significant quantities of fentanyl and other illegal drugs. He described the operation as a critical step in combating drug trafficking, declaring, “It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States.”

The military strike resulted in the deaths of two of the four individuals aboard the submarine, while the survivors are expected to face prosecution in their home countries. Trump referred to all four individuals as “known narcoterrorists,” emphasizing the seriousness of the operation. He claimed that the cargo could have resulted in the deaths of at least 25,000 Americans had it reached U.S. shores.

No U.S. forces were injured in the operation, which marks the sixth such military action targeting drug trafficking since early September 2023. According to NPR, these operations have resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people connected to narcotrafficking activities. Trump has framed these strikes as part of an “armed conflict” against drug cartels, invoking legal authority similar to that used by the Bush administration in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

The decision to send the survivors to their home countries raises questions regarding their legal status within the U.S. justice system. By repatriating them, the Trump administration sidesteps potential legal complexities that could arise if they were to face charges in the United States.

Trump reiterated his administration’s stance on narcoterrorism, asserting, “Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea.” This declaration reflects an ongoing commitment to intensifying military action against drug trafficking organizations and underscores the administration’s focus on addressing the opioid crisis.