During his address to the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump warned drug traffickers of inevitable retribution for attempting to smuggle illegal substances into the country. The statement followed recent US military operations that sank several vessels suspected of being linked to Venezuelan groups, killing more than a dozen people on board.

"To every terrorist bandit who is smuggling toxic drugs into the United States of America, please know that we will destroy you."“Trump emphasized, addressing the forum participants.

According to him, such measures are necessary to protect national security from threats emanating from international criminal networks.

Earlier in September, the US Navy conducted a series of strikes on targets identified as drug trafficking vessels. Eleven people were killed in one incident, and three in another. The White House characterized these actions as preventive, citing the vessels' ties to the Trene de Aragua gang. Venezuela condemned the attacks as "military aggression."