Perfidy on the High Seas

What’s civilised about the number of deaths caused by illegal drug taking?

Oreo

I don’t mind any government going in hard on drug cartels or anyone involved in the drugs trade, it’s hateful and ruins lives.
Those men are despicable.

“Going on hard” no issue, using other illegal means? I object to vehemently, it opens doors to all manner of actions which would ultimately damage our justice system. Drug running is despicable, so is knife crime, so are shootings, so are groomers, and so on, shall we just swoop over these groups and shoot them without questions?

Whitewavemark2

So those who are congratulating Trumps actions - can we assume that you are supportive of law breaking and anarchy?

Because that is what we are talking about.

As part of my working life I was active in the fight against the drug trade, cooperating with our European partners, but we always and still do work under the rule of law. I would never have had it any other way.

We are a civilised group of nations. Let’s keep it that way.

Yes!

Oreo

I think if the boat had been an innocent fishing boat then the world would know by now.
These narco boats contain armed vicious men, don’t waste any tears on them.

I think you’re missing point, we learn in primary school or earlier, that two wrongs don’t make a right.

Of course drug smugglers need to be stopped, but we need to utilise legal means to stop illegal activity.

I’m not convinced that you know what you are talking about.

They are also heavily armed.So let’s just ask them for a nice chat and to hand over their boat.

I don’t mind any government going in hard on drug cartels or anyone involved in the drugs trade, it’s hateful and ruins lives.
Those men are despicable.

So those who are congratulating Trumps actions - can we assume that you are supportive of law breaking and anarchy?

Because that is what we are talking about.

As part of my working life I was active in the fight against the drug trade, cooperating with our European partners, but we always and still do work under the rule of law. I would never have had it any other way.

We are a civilised group of nations. Let’s keep it that way.

ronib

I can’t for one minute believe that Trump doesn’t have accurate information on drug traffickers. He is really trying to make the world a better place by removing this appalling trade in human life. The traffickers have been warned repeatedly so it’s up to them to stop this evil trade if they want to stay alive. Actions and consequences?

what about the innocent people on the sea in that area going about their legitimate business to make a living on a boat; fishing, transport, trade. That's what people do in coastal areas.

Should they stay ashore too?

We've all seen Trump make wildly wrong, unfounded , invented accusations as a tactic to justify his worst excesses .
He's a liar and law breaker at everything he touches.

I think if the boat had been an innocent fishing boat then the world would know by now.
These narco boats contain armed vicious men, don’t waste any tears on them.

ronib

I can’t for one minute believe that Trump doesn’t have accurate information on drug traffickers. He is really trying to make the world a better place by removing this appalling trade in human life. The traffickers have been warned repeatedly so it’s up to them to stop this evil trade if they want to stay alive. Actions and consequences?

If you read my second link you will see that yes, this is an enormous problem which the UK, for one, has been tackling for years and it gives just one example,e of how the UK deals with this, without resorting to piracy in international waters.

It seems that the rule in the US now is to shoot and kill first, ask questions (or make up excuses) later.

ronib

I can’t for one minute believe that Trump doesn’t have accurate information on drug traffickers. He is really trying to make the world a better place by removing this appalling trade in human life. The traffickers have been warned repeatedly so it’s up to them to stop this evil trade if they want to stay alive. Actions and consequences?

Oh please, you don’t really believe that statement do you? “He really is trying to make the world a better place”

Grandmabatty

I'm not seeing this reported on mum, Whitewave. Where did you read it?

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/us/politics/us-boat-attacks-law.html

www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-military-carries-out-30th-strike-on-alleged-drug-boat

"WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Monday that it had conducted another strike against a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people.

The strike, which was announced by U.S. Southern Command on social media, has brought the total number of known boat strikes to 30 and the number of people killed at least 107 since early September, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration

The military said the vessel "was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," though it did not provide evidence to back up the claim."

I'm hoping that for Trump, his actions will have consequences.

I can’t for one minute believe that Trump doesn’t have accurate information on drug traffickers. He is really trying to make the world a better place by removing this appalling trade in human life. The traffickers have been warned repeatedly so it’s up to them to stop this evil trade if they want to stay alive. Actions and consequences?

How on earth can anyone think this is OK?? It defies (my) belief.

Here is just one example of how the UK deals with this problem.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c620x7y4p4mo

This happened (twice) in international waters.

Legal experts previously told the BBC that the fatal strike on the first vessel in international waters may have violated international human rights and maritime law.

Asked by a journalist on Sunday whether the US would now "start doing strikes on mainland Venezuela", Trump answered: "We'll see what happens

And we have seen now.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2jel4gyezo
15 September 2025

Elegran

Oreo

ronib

The reasons for Trump’s actions seem highly laudable. Drugs kill many people.

👍🏻
I don’t care what happened if drug gangs were stopped at sea.
Perfidy and piracy! Where’s Jack Sparrow?😁

They need to make very sure that it IS drug gangs they attack - capturing the boats and actually finding the drugs before bombing them and killing or drowning the crew and all witnesses/survivors would be a good way to do that.

Exactly this. We take part in this sort of action throughout that part of the world.

Anarchy is not the way to go. Taking Trumps actions to its logical conclusion, means that he is enabled to attack and kill at will - anyone, without the need for evidence.

What’s happening here is shoot first, ask questions later, bit difficult when one’s dead!

This attitude of Trump, sadly and shockingly mirrored by a few here, is the end always justifies the means

Sorry, in my opinion, this isn’t true and this is why we, in the so called civilised world, have justice systems. Goodness me, whatever happened to innocent til proven guilty?

Both Putin and Trump are proven liars and whilst they play, people are still dying in Gaza and Ukraine, fighting Peacemaker Trump vowed to stop in two weeks.

If it wasn’t so shockingly tragic, it would be laughable.

ronib

Trump has declared a war on drug trafficking….. well done seems appropriate.

Have you gone mad?? Did you read the entire thread? Sorry, I am just astounded by your comment, I didn’t mean to be so rude

Oreo

ronib

The reasons for Trump’s actions seem highly laudable. Drugs kill many people.

👍🏻
I don’t care what happened if drug gangs were stopped at sea.
Perfidy and piracy! Where’s Jack Sparrow?😁

They need to make very sure that it IS drug gangs they attack - capturing the boats and actually finding the drugs before bombing them and killing or drowning the crew and all witnesses/survivors would be a good way to do that.

ronib

The reasons for Trump’s actions seem highly laudable. Drugs kill many people.

👍🏻
I don’t care what happened if drug gangs were stopped at sea.
Perfidy and piracy! Where’s Jack Sparrow?😁

The reasons for Trump’s actions seem highly laudable. Drugs kill many people.

War on drug trafficking is one thing, and every government is involved in this one way or another - usually a great deal of cooperation between states takes place.

But piracy and perfidy are quite another.

That is what is under discussion.