United States armed forces have eliminated a submarine purportedly conveying an immense burden of drugs to American coasts in the Caribbean, representing the most recent move in President Donald Trump’s escalated war against global narcotrafficking organizations.
The Strike and Its Details
n a video released by the Pentagon through social media, one can see that the semi-submersible was caught and destroyed in a precision strike while moving along an already known drug trafficking route within the Caribbean Sea. There is footage of the submarine gliding partially submerged before several explosions ripping through the vessel eventually sinking her.
President Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, calling it “a great honor to destroy a very large drug-carrying submarine.” He stated that US intelligence confirmed the vessel carried large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics, claiming that “25,000 Americans would have died” had the submarine reached US shores. Two individuals onboard were killed, and two others—nationals of Ecuador and Colombia—survived. They were rescued by US forces and transferred via helicopter to a US Navy warship before being repatriated for prosecution.
International Reactions
Colombian President Gustavo Petro verified that the apprehended Colombian national had been brought back alive and would be tried according to domestic law. On the other hand, Ecuador has not officially commented on the return of its citizen.
President Trump underscored in his comments that there was no harm to any US personnel stressing that “Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs by land or by sea”.
Broader War on Drugs
This is the sixth US military attack in just the past few weeks in the Caribbean, making an estimated at least 29 suspected traffickers killed from these operations since early September. The Trump administration has said these actions are part of a wider “armed conflict with drug cartels,” drawing on similar legal constructs as those employed in the post-9/11 anti-terrorism campaigns.
UN-mandated human rights experts, on the other hand, have voiced concern at what they call “extrajudicial killings”, noting a lack of judicial oversight and the clear identification of those killed.
The New “Narco-Submarine” Threat
Narco-submarines, typically homemade and made of fiberglass or plywood, are becoming more common to carry drugs clandestinely by drug cartels. They usually travel with their hull (but not decks) just below the waterline to avoid radar and can be intentionally scuttled to destroy evidence.
US intelligence suspects this specific sub was constructed for bulk drug-muling, reflecting the increasing professionalisation of shipping networks in the face of intensified pressure from Washington.
Ongoing Operations
Analysts said the rapid-fire maritime strikes are a clear escalation in US counter-narcotics efforts under President Trump, designed to cut off the logistical lines between drug-producing areas of South America and traffickers distributing drugs throughout the United States. Whether these tactics will dramatically cut off drug flows, or spoil finds with affected countries is yet to be determined.
📹 DESTROYED: Confirmed DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 18, 2025
"Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea." – President Trump pic.twitter.com/N4TAkgPHXN