US official says personnel from Navy ship inspected Venezuelan fishing boat for drugs
The Venezuelan government has recently accused U.S. personnel of boarding and occupying a civilian fishing boat within Venezuela’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This incident occurred as part of the U.S.’s “counter narco-terror operations” in the Caribbean.
According to a U.S. official, Coast Guard personnel stationed aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Jason Dunham searched the fishing boat for drugs based on a tip, but no contraband was found. However, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry office claimed that 18 U.S. Navy personnel with long-range weapons boarded and occupied the Venezuelan fishing vessel.
The foreign ministry condemned the operation, calling it a “direct provocation through the illegal use of excessive military means.” Despite claims that the search took eight hours and occurred in international waters, the U.S. official refuted these allegations.
This incident comes after President Trump’s announcement of increased military presence in the region to combat drug smuggling. Earlier in the month, a U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals identified as “Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists.”
Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela escalated further when two Venezuelan military aircraft flew near the USS Jason Dunham in international waters, described by the Pentagon as a “highly provocative move” aimed at disrupting U.S. operations.
This latest confrontation underscores the ongoing disputes between the two countries and raises concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
