U.S. Military Employed Drones, Aircraft and Redacted Weapons Systems in Attacks on Suspected Drug-Trafficking Vessels

Ever since the United States authorized military deployment to South America for a counter-narcotics campaign aimed at neutralizing drug trafficking, American forces have used a wide range of weapons and technology to strike vessels that were allegedly transporting drugs.

Since early September, the U.S. military has carried out 21 strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific, reaching as far north as a few hundred miles off the coast of Mexico.

For each strike, the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted short video clips showing the final moments of the operations. However, officials have not released details about the weapons involved, the people killed, or any evidence that the boats were carrying drugs.

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A new investigation by The New York Times found that 19 of the 21 clips contain redactions that obscure sensitive information about the attack systems used. The report also examined the types of weapons deployed in the strikes and the consistent patterns seen across the missions.

After consulting with military aviators and weapons specialists, The New York Times concluded that the U.S. military used a mix of munitions that relied on both drones and piloted aircraft, a shift away from the traditional stop-and-board approach.

Earlier this month, the White House said in a statement that the missions were being conducted mostly by drones launched from Navy ships in international waters, but evidence reviewed by the outlet shows the U.S. has also used piloted aircraft and large drones that can only take off from land bases.

Among the munitions used in the strikes were the AGM-176 Griffin, a small guided missile often used in covert operations, and the AGM-114 Hellfire, which can be launched from gunships and MQ-9 Reaper drones operating from land-based airfields.

Although this advanced warfare makes it easier to destroy the vessels, lawmakers from both parties, as well as legal experts and advocates, have repeatedly questioned whether the campaign is lawful, noting that bombing fast-moving boats departs sharply from the Coast Guard's usual protocol when intercepting vessels at sea.

Despite the extensive redactions that hide information about attack systems, several clips show people on the boats in the moments before they are killed.

Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and… pic.twitter.com/ocUoGzwwDO

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 10, 2025

As The New York Times noted, this breaks from previous practice in which the government avoided releasing footage showing loss of life, typically showing only buildings or vehicles being hit. The Pentagon has defended the redactions, saying they are made solely for operational security.

The report also pointed out that unlike routine Coast Guard interdictions, the military has provided no evidence to support the strikes. The Coast Guard usually displays seized narcotics on the deck of a cutter or at a pier, but for the past two months, the military has declined to do so, citing unspecified intelligence that has not been made public.

Concerns about the legality of the missions have also surfaced among troops deployed to Latin America. According to a recent Washington Post report, junior officers have begun asking military lawyers for written approval before participating in strikes, raising ethical questions across the ranks.

Two people familiar with the matter told the outlet that some service members are worried they may need legal representation in the future.

"You can refuse illegal orders," they said, addressing military and intelligence personnel directly. "No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."

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