The U.S. military has killed at least 207 people in strikes on boats in Caribbean and Pacific waters since September 2025, with the Pentagon identifying them as suspected drug smugglers — but as Reich notes, this targeting is based on military claims that have not been independently verified by courts or external investigators before strikes occurred. The death toll is confirmed by AP, CBS, and other outlets, though the framing around whether these individuals were actually traffickers remains contested. Some boats carried survivors who dispute the trafficking allegations, raising questions about the speed of targeting and due process protections.