United States Bets on Failing Tactic by Resuming Strikes

In late August, the United States resumed missile strikes on suspected drug vessels, marking the first attacks since a two-month pause. This move suggests the Trump administration remains committed to a tactic that has yet to effectively curb drug trafficking. President Trump claimed a 98% decrease in maritime drug trafficking since the strikes started in September 2025, a figure disputed by drug seizure data.

In fact, drug seizures, which serve as a proxy for the amount of drugs passing through U.S. ports, dropped by less than 3% in the 11 months following the strikes compared to the same period the previous year. Prices for cocaine, the most likely drug in the targeted vessels, have remained stable, further contradicting the notion of reduced supply.

While strikes have disrupted specific routes, forcing smugglers to adopt alternate methods, they have not significantly diminished drug trafficking. Initial abandonments of coastal trafficking points in Venezuela and a temporary freeze in trafficking to nearby islands like Aruba, Curaçao, and Trinidad have since resumed. Traffickers are increasingly using larger boats and operating closer to coastlines to evade strikes.

Recent drug seizures in Guyana and Suriname indicate that alternative routes are emerging. The controversial campaign appears set to continue, despite its questionable impact; the latest strikes on August 23 and 25 were followed by a joint operation with Ecuador. The United States has not provided evidence that the targeted boats and people were involved in drug trafficking, nor have they disclosed the criteria used to select targets, which reportedly do not include drug-related evidence.

The strikes' intelligence methods are considered opaque, with some questioning the rigor in identifying those involved or their alleged ties to drug trafficking organizations.