The US military’s campaign against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific has paused for the longest period to date, with no strikes occurring in over a month. The last strike took place on June 21.

Effectiveness of the Campaign

US law enforcement officials and experts are uncertain about the lasting impact of the 11-month campaign, which has destroyed at least 67 vessels and killed at least 221 people. The official mission for Operation Southern Spear, as the boat strike initiative is known, is classified.

US Southern Command, the headquarters overseeing Operation Southern Spear, stated that the mission aims to detect, disrupt, and dismantle cartels labeled as terrorist organizations, denying them a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. However, experts are skeptical about the lethal strike strategy and its effectiveness in addressing the root causes of the drug trade.

According to data from the Coast Guard, the amount of sea-borne cocaine seized has declined in both the eastern Pacific and Caribbean since the boat strikes began. Nevertheless, customs and border protection officials are still seizing thousands of pounds of cocaine per month at the country’s borders and interior.

Expert Opinions

Experts, such as Nicholas Magliocca, a geography professor at the University of Alabama, argue that the campaign is unlikely to meaningfully change the region’s drug trade. Magliocca stated that meeting force with force has only intensified the issue. Sebastian Cutrona, a cocaine trafficking expert, described the boat strike campaign as performative in nature, as sea-borne trafficking is often done through shipping containers, not boats.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.