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US strike against alleged drug smugglers in eastern Pacific kills two, Coast Guard says

By Thomson Reuters Mar 20, 2026 | 1:04 PM

March 20 (Reuters) – U.S. forces launched a strike ​against a ‌boat allegedly involved in drug smuggling in the eastern ‌Pacific, ​the ⁠U.S. military said ⁠on Friday, killing two people.

The Coast Guard said ​it was notified by U.S. ⁠Southern ⁠Command on Thursday ​that three people ​were reported in distress ‌in Pacific waters. They found two dead ⁠and one survivor.

The survivor and remains were ⁠transferred ‌to the ⁠Costa Rican ​Coast ‌Guard, a Coast ​Guard ⁠spokesperson said.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Michelle ​Nichols)