The United States military says it carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people.

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said the operation was conducted on September 9 by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere under its direction.

According to SOUTHCOM, the target was a “go-fast” vessel travelling along established narcotics-trafficking routes in the Caribbean. The command said intelligence confirmed the vessel was actively involved in drug trafficking.

Three people aboard the vessel were killed. SOUTHCOM described those killed as “narco-terrorists,” but did not disclose their identities, nationality, the vessel’s precise location or details of the intelligence used to determine its alleged involvement in trafficking.

Reuters reported that it was unable to independently verify SOUTHCOM’s account. The latest operation forms part of an ongoing U.S. military campaign targeting vessels Washington says are connected to narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

The September 9 strike follows another Caribbean operation on August 25 in which SOUTHCOM said four people were killed aboard a suspected drug-trafficking vessel.

Source: Antigua News Room U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug-Trafficking Boat in Caribbean Kills Three.