UK Stops Sharing Intelligence With US on Alleged Drug Vessels Amid Legal Concerns Over Strikes: Report

The United Kingdom has suspended intelligence sharing with the United States on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, citing concerns that the information could be used to support military strikes it considers unlawful, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The move marks an unusual break between close intelligence partners and reflects broader skepticism among US allies regarding the legal basis of the Trump administration's lethal maritime campaign. The pause allegedly began more than a month ago after the US began attacking suspected drug boats which have killed at least 76 people so far.

For years, the UK has provided intelligence from Caribbean territories to support US Coast Guard interdictions, during which suspected vessels were boarded, crews detained, and narcotics seized, CNN reports.

Officials, however, grew concerned after the US shifted from interdiction to airstrikes, and now believe the operations violate international law. The outlet noted that the UK shares the view of UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who recently has said the attacks constitute "extrajudicial killing."

Canada, another longstanding US counter-narcotics partner in the Caribbean, is maintaining its law-enforcement cooperation but has also informed Washington that it does not want its intelligence used to support lethal strikes.

CNN previously reported that at least some of the targeted vessels were stationary or turning away when they were hit. Internal skepticism has also emerged within the US government. Additionally, White Houe officials told lawmakers in a classified briefing on last week that U.S. forces carrying out airstrikes often do not know the identities of those onboard before launching the attacks.

Turk is not the only Human Rights figure to have expressed concerns over the strikes. Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, told the BBC last week that the strikes would be regarded under international law as crimes against humanity because they constitute lethal action against civilians during peacetime.

"These are criminals, not soldiers," he said, adding that suspects should be investigated and prosecuted rather than killed. He called the shift "a very dangerous" expansion of presidential authority.

The White House has rejected the criticism, saying the US is acting to protect Americans from cartels that are "trying to bring poison to our shores," and noting that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States.