Turmoil on the High Seas: Three Saint Lucian Fishermen Allegedly Killed by U.S. Military in SVG

Recent media reports indicate that three Saint Lucian fishermen, believed to be involved in drug trafficking, were allegedly killed by the U.S. military in the waters of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

The incident, which took place during a U.S. military operation, is under scrutiny amid concerns about civilian casualties and accountability.

While no official confirmation links the military action directly to drug trafficking, reports suggest that the U.S. targeted a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean Sea.

Remnants of the vessel were discovered near Canouan, raising questions about the legality and proportionality of military actions in drug enforcement. This situation echoes past controversies, including the 2021 U.S. naval strike in Venezuela that resulted in multiple casualties.

According to the St. Vincent Times, a group of fishermen from the mainland found remnants of the alleged drug boat, although they reported seeing no bodies in the area.

The specifics of the strike’s location have not been clarified by the U.S. Southern Command, which stated only that forces targeted a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” the Southern Command said in a post on X. They added that “intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

Fishermen who found the wreckage noted that the bow of the boat was still visible, with the engine and most of the hull submerged.

While the U.S. military has not detailed the nationalities of those killed, sources from The St. Vincent Times indicate that the three missing fishermen went out to sea the previous Monday. The location of the vessel’s remains raises further questions about whether it was destroyed in international waters or within St. Vincent’s territorial waters.

The St. Vincent government has yet to respond to these strikes or confirm their occurrence within its maritime jurisdiction. Since the strikes resumed in late January, the Trump administration has defended the actions as necessary measures to stop illegal drugs from entering the U.S.

According to the Department of Defence, at least 37 strikes have claimed the lives of 120 people, not including Friday’s incident.

As of the latest updates, ASP Luke Defreitas, Officer I/C of Crime within the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force [RSLPF] remarked to The Voice, “We have very little information at this point. As soon as we have sufficient details to make a formal statement, we will.”