{
  "id": 6526582,
  "title": "Rubio defends US strikes on boats, warns of drug cartel ‘cancer’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/rubio-defends-us-strikes-on-boats-warns-of-drug-cartel-cancer",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-10T02:40:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3366987/rubio-defends-us-strikes-boats-warns-drug-cartel-cancer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended recent strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels during a visit to Ecuador, warning that Latin American cartels would \"eat these countries alive\" if left unchecked. The Secretary praised emerging conservative leaders in the region, allied with President Donald Trump, and stated that Washington is finding partners willing to aggressively combat criminal groups. Since President Trump returned to power, the U.S. has embraced air strikes against known trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Pentagon figures indicate that these operations have resulted in over 200 deaths. Rights groups, fishermen, and their relatives have raised concerns about the campaign, alleging that vessels were targeted without sufficient evidence linking them to trafficking. Experts have also questioned whether these strikes effectively curb the flow of drugs to the United States, the world's largest consumer.\n\nRubio emphasized that the operations would continue, warning that if left unchecked, these criminal groups would \"eat these countries alive,\" likening them to a cancer that continues to grow until a state collapses. He expressed satisfaction with the emergence of serious leaders in the region tackling these groups, as failure would lead to successive failed countries. Joint US-Ecuador patrols have removed crews from at least six boats before sinking them in recent weeks, with decisions made case by case based on the threat posed, location, and local laws.\n\nRegarding future actions, Rubio stated that decisions would depend on each situation, and they would continue to destroy vessels if necessary. He added that it depends on the threat posed by a vessel, its location, and local laws. SOUTHCOM confirmed a lethal kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean, resulting in the death of three narco-terrorists. In Ecuador, over 25,000 people have been murdered in the last three years due to drug gangs vying for control of trafficking routes. Rubio designated one gang, Los Tiguerones, as a \"terrorist organization\" and imposed sanctions on seven Ecuadorian former officials.\n\nDuring his visit, Rubio announced the designation of Los Tiguerones as a terrorist organization and imposed sanctions on seven Ecuadorian former officials. He visited Colombia and Ecuador, pledging to restore \"natural relations\" with Bogota after years of leftist rule and expressing disappointment with leftist-led Mexico's efforts in the cartel fight. His final stop is Peru, where he will advance the \"Shield of the Americas\" initiative, a US-backed security partnership.",
  "summary": "US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended controversial strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats during a visit to Ecuador on Wednesday, arguing Latin American cartels would “eat these countries alive” if left unchecked. Hailing a new generation of conservative leaders emerging across the region who are allied with President Donald Trump, Rubio said Washington was finding partners willing to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Rubio defends US strikes on suspected drug boats, vows to fight cartel ‘cancer’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/rubio-defends-us-strikes-on-suspected-drug-boats-vows-to-fight-cartel",
        "published": "2026-09-10T02:09:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}