US Strikes Force Some Cartel Leaders to Halt Drug Operations, Hegseth Says

Cartel Drug Traffickers Halt Operations Following U.S. Military Strikes in Caribbean

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that several major cartel drug traffickers operating in the U.S. Southern Command region have ceased narcotics activities indefinitely, following recent American military strikes in the Caribbean.

“WINNING: Some top cartel drug-traffickers in the @SOUTHCOM AOR have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean,” Hegseth stated in a social media post. He credited President Donald Trump with directing the military actions, describing the effort as “deterrence through strength” that is “SAVING American lives.”

The announcement marks a significant development in the Trump administration’s aggressive approach toward combating drug cartels, which it has labeled as “narco-terrorist” organizations. This policy represents a substantial escalation in tactics compared to previous administrations’ approaches to the drug trade.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina praised the military operations, writing on social media: “Well done @SecWar and to all under your command. We must continue to verify and monitor. We can’t trust drug cartels.”

Just hours before Hegseth’s announcement, Southern Command confirmed a lethal strike conducted on February 5. “At the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” the command stated in an official communication. “Two narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

The operation targeted a vessel that intelligence had confirmed was “transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

This aggressive military approach against drug traffickers represents a significant policy shift in the ongoing war against narcotics. By classifying cartel members as terrorists, the administration has expanded its legal authorities to conduct lethal operations against suspected traffickers in international waters.

The Caribbean basin has long been a critical transit zone for drug shipments heading to the United States, with cartels using fast boats, semi-submersibles, and other maritime vessels to transport cocaine and other narcotics from South America. The region falls under the responsibility of U.S. Southern Command, which coordinates military operations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Security experts note that while this approach may temporarily disrupt trafficking operations, cartels have historically demonstrated remarkable adaptability to enforcement measures. They often shift routes, change transportation methods, or temporarily pause operations before resuming activities once pressure subsides.

The effectiveness of lethal strikes as a long-term deterrent remains debated among policy analysts. Proponents argue that raising the personal risk to traffickers creates a powerful disincentive, while critics question whether military action alone can significantly impact the broader drug trade without addressing demand and institutional corruption in transit countries.

The administration’s designation of drug cartels as terrorist organizations has also raised legal and diplomatic questions about the scope of military authority in combating what has traditionally been viewed as a law enforcement challenge.

As this policy continues to unfold, U.S. Southern Command will likely maintain its heightened operational tempo in the region, potentially expanding kinetic operations to other known trafficking corridors. Military officials have not specified which cartels have ceased operations or how long they expect this operational pause to continue.