President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States conducted a lethal drone strike on a drug-trafficking vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six individuals identified as part of a narcoterrorist network.

The declassified night-vision footage, released by U.S. defense officials, shows a precision strike against the vessel in Venezuelan waters. The operation marks the fifth successful interdiction since January 2025, part of a broader crackdown under the VALOR Act, which empowers the U.S. military to target vessels and entities that support the Maduro regime — officially labeled a narcostate by Washington.

“This was a very dangerous operation, but it was handled perfectly,” Trump said. “The message is clear: America will not tolerate the drug cartels that threaten our hemisphere and fund corrupt regimes.”

The VALOR Act (Venezuelan Anti-Laundering and Organized Resistance Act) allows not only for direct action against cartel-linked targets but also for financial sanctions on organizations enabling Venezuela’s narco networks.

While critics have called the campaign “overreach,” administration officials insist it’s a necessary show of strength to restore order in a region destabilized by drug smuggling and corruption. The success of recent strikes, they argue, demonstrates that “weakness invites chaos, but strength restores order.”