AP Investigation Shows People Operating Targeted Boats In The Caribbean Were 'Running Drugs' But Claims 'Reality Is More Nuanced'

A new investigation revealed that people operating boats targeted by U.S. strikes in the Caribbean were indeed running drugs, but were not high-up in criminal organizations.

The Associated Press said it conducted dozens of interviews in villages from which some of the boats departed, managing to identify nine people on the boats.

The outlet noted that most of the men were in such boats for the first of second time and were going to be paid at least $500 for the trip. A few were laborers, other was a fisherman and another one a motorcycle taxi driver.

Two others, the AP noted, were low-level career criminals and one was a local crime boss who contracted smuggling services to traffickers. All of them used the boats to take drugs to Trinidad or other nearby islands, from where they would continue to other routes.

The strikes' death toll has in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific has now reached at least 70 following the latest one, which took place on Thursday and killed three people, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean and was struck in international waters. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, and three male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed. To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs—we will kill you," Hegseth said in a social media publication in which he attached footage of the attack.

The U.S. has now destroyed at least 18 vessels, including one "narco sub," CBS News detailed.