The Bombed: Without Right to Defense A collaborative investigation has identified 19 of the 179 people killed in 58 US military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific between September 2 and May 5. The strikes, which the US government claims targeted drug trafficking routes, have led to fear and silence among victims’ families and officials. The investigation highlights that conventional anti-narcotics efforts were more effective and resulted in no deaths, while these missile strikes have fragmented international cooperation against illegal drugs.

• A cross-border journalistic investigation, “Los Bombardeados, sin derecho a la defensa,” has documented 58 US military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in 179 deaths between September 2 and May 5.
• The investigation has identified 19 of the deceased victims by name and some of their personal stories, with most being humble coastal inhabitants.
• Victims’ families and associates live in fear of reprisal, leading to widespread silence and an hermetic response from authorities.
• The US claims the strikes targeted drug trafficking routes, but the investigation notes that regular anti-narcotics efforts were more effective and did not result in fatalities.
• These actions have fragmented international cooperation on drug interdiction due to fears of violating international law and potential repercussions from the United States. https://runrun.es/reportajes-especiales/608000/los-bombardeados-sin-derecho-a-la-defensa/