GENEVA - UN experts* today condemned the extrajudicial execution by the United States of 11 people when it sank a civilian vessel in the Caribbean Sea on 2 September 2025, and three people on another vessel on 15 September.
"International law does not allow governments to simply murder alleged drug traffickers," the experts said. "Criminal activities should be disrupted, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the rule of law, including through international cooperation."
On 2 September 2025, the President of the United States announced a "kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua narco-terrorists" aboard a vessel in international waters, allegedly transporting illegal narcotics to the U.S., killing 11 people. The Secretary of State of the United States indicated the U.S. could have intercepted the vessel but chose to destroy it to deter traffickers. The U.S. had previously designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organisation.
"Under international law, all countries must respect the right to life, including when acting on the high seas or in foreign territory. The use of potentially lethal force is only permitted in personal self-defence or defence of others against an imminent threat to life," the experts said.
"The United States' attack also violates the international law of the sea, which does not authorise unprovoked attacks on ships, requires criteria to be met to intercept ships, and insists on a law enforcement, not military approach to using force," they said.
The United States has previously accused Tren de Aragua of mounting an "invasion" or "predatory incursion" of the U.S., at the behest of the Venezuelan Government. "There is no evidence that this group is committing an armed attack against the U.S. that would allow the U.S. to use military force against it in national self-defence," the experts said.
The strike follows a classified order reportedly signed by the U.S. President in August 2025 authorising military force, in foreign territory or international waters, against Latin American drug cartels that the U.S. Government recently designated as terrorist organisations. These include groups based in Latin America, including in Mexico and Venezuela.
"International law does not permit the unilateral use of force abroad to fight terrorism or drug trafficking. Attacks on organised crime groups in foreign territory would violate the other country's sovereignty and could amount to an illegal use of force under the United Nations Charter and customary international law," the experts said.
The United States has reportedly deployed substantial naval, air and land forces in the region for the purpose of deterring drug trafficking and "narco-terrorism".
On 25 July 2025, the U.S. designated Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist group and alleged that the Venezuelan President is its leader, raising the prospect that the U.S. may use military force directly against a foreign government.
We urge the United States to retreat from its lawless "war on narco-terrorism". Under international law, the U.S. must independently investigate those who ordered and carried out these murders, prosecute perpetrators, no matter how senior in government, provide reparation to the victims' families, and guarantee that such acts will never occur again," the experts said.
The experts have been in contact with the Governments concerned regarding these matters.
