Trending Now - US Military Strike on Drug Boat Off Costa Rica Kills 2

WHO:

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)

Costa Rican authorities

Steven Umaña, regional operations coordinator for the Costa Rican Red Cross

Costa Rica’s National Coast Guard Operations Center

Judicial Investigation Agency

U.S. Navy

WHAT:

A U.S. military strike on a vessel suspected of drug smuggling resulted in at least two deaths and one critically injured person.

The strike was the 46th since early September 2025, with a total of 159 people killed in the campaign.

A video posted by the administration showed an explosion of the boat.

One person was found with severe burns and significant chest trauma and was transported in critical condition to Golfito Hospital.

Two people were found with no vital signs.

WHERE:

Eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Costa Rica

126 nautical miles from Golfito, Costa Rica

WHEN:

The strike occurred on Thursday, March 19th, 2026.

The alert about the shipwreck was received at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, March 20th, 2026.

WHY:

The strike was part of a campaign against alleged drug smugglers in Latin America, with the U.S. designating the criminal group operating the boat as a foreign terrorist organization.

The Trump administration has taken a more aggressive approach toward Latin America and the Caribbean.

HOW:

The U.S. carried out a “lethal kinetic strike” on the boat, which was confirmed to be involved in drug trafficking operations based on intelligence.

(UPDATED March 21, 2026 19:08 UTC)

A U.S. military strike on a vessel suspected of drug smuggling off the coast of Costa Rica resulted in at least two deaths and one person critically injured on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The operation, part of an ongoing campaign against alleged drug smugglers, marked the 46th strike since September 2025, with a total of 159 fatalities reported in the effort. Following the strike, a critically injured individual was transported to Golfito Hospital, while two others were found without vital signs.