U.S. military kills three on boat, using new tactic against drug smugglers

On June 19, the U.S. military killed three people on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The reason: the Trump administration officially labeled major drug cartels as terrorist organizations in 2025. This label allows the military to act, not just police. The shift matters—it means the U.S. may now use weapons, not just law enforcement, against drug smuggling.