The U.S. War Department has reported expenditures of approximately $820 million for Operation Southern Spear, which aims to target drug smuggling vessels from Central and South America. The operation began nearly a year ago. In the second quarter of this year, U.S. Southern Command allocated $173.9 million for the operation, a decrease from about $527.9 million in the previous quarter. The mission has involved 66 strikes, resulting in the deaths of 218 individuals and the rescue of four survivors. Most strikes occurred in the eastern Pacific (47) and the Caribbean (17).
A recent Inspector General report from the Pentagon, State Department, and USAID indicated that the reduction in costs is attributed to a transition to steady state operations and the withdrawal of many U.S. ships and personnel from the area. While Navy assets were present in the region, they were not directly involved in Operation Southern Spear. The report also noted that designated terrorist organizations have adapted by using alternative smuggling routes.
Historically, the U.S. Coast Guard has led efforts against drug smuggling through nonlethal means. However, President Donald Trump ordered the military to deploy naval and air resources to the Caribbean, leading to the first lethal strike on September 2, 2025. The legality of these strikes has faced scrutiny, and the criteria for targeting vessels remain unclear. A lawsuit has been filed by the families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. strike in October 2025. The Trump administration has emphasized the importance of regional cooperation against narcotics trafficking and has initiated the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, involving 18 partners across the Western Hemisphere.