Over 100 Lives Lost in Rapid Strike Escalation (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Relatives of two Trinidadian men presumed dead after a U.S. military airstrike targeted their vessel have launched the first federal lawsuit against the government’s campaign to sink suspected drug boats.
Over 100 Lives Lost in Rapid Strike Escalation
The Trump administration initiated its aggressive operations against alleged drug smugglers in early September 2025, announcing three dozen strikes by late October.[1][2]
These actions in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific resulted in more than 125 deaths, according to Defense Department figures.[2] President Trump publicized one such incident on social media, describing it as a “lethal kinetic strike” against “six male narcoterrorists.”[1]
U.S. officials justified the effort as essential to curb narcotics flowing toward American shores. Lawmakers, however, questioned the legal foundation throughout the campaign’s early months.[1]
The October 14 strike off Venezuela’s coast stood out when families later contested the government’s account.
Portraits of Ordinary Workers, Not Criminals
Chad Joseph, 26, supported his common-law wife and three young children from his home in Las Cuevas, Trinidad. He fished and farmed in Venezuela, calling family daily before his final contact on October 12.[2]
His mother, Lenore Burnley, remembered him fondly. “Chad was a loving and caring son who was always there for me, for his wife and children, and for our whole family,” she said. “We know this lawsuit won’t bring Chad back to us, but we’re trusting God to carry us through this, and we hope that speaking out will help get us some truth and closure.”[2]
Rishi Samaroo, 41, had rebuilt his life after prison time for a past homicide. He took construction and farm jobs across the border, sharing photos with relatives. His sister, Sallycar Korasingh, noted his routine check-ins stopped abruptly. “Rishi was a hardworking man who paid his debt to society,” she stated. “If the U.S. government believed Rishi had done anything wrong, it should have arrested, charged, and detained him, not murdered him. They must be held accountable.”[2]
The lawsuit portrayed both men as breadwinners heading home, with no drug ties. Trinidad authorities confirmed no evidence of illegal activity or contraband on the victims.[2]
Claims of Wrongful Death and Lawlessness
Filed January 27, 2026, in Massachusetts federal court, the suit invokes the Death on the High Seas Act and Alien Tort Statute.[1] Attorneys from the ACLU, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Seton Hall Law argued the men posed no imminent threat, rejecting non-lethal options.
Baher Azmy of the Center for Constitutional Rights called the strikes “killing for sport, it’s killing for theater and it’s utterly lawless.”[1] The complaint challenges any armed conflict with cartels, labeling the deaths premeditated murders.[2]
- Boat traveled from Venezuela to Trinidad, carrying civilians.
- No prior notification to families.
- Strike killed all six aboard, per U.S. claims.
- Lawsuit seeks accountability under U.S. and international law.
Official Responses Amid Silence
The Pentagon offered no comment, citing policy on active cases. A White House spokesperson previously defended the October action against “designated narcoterrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores.”[1]
Administration figures maintained the boats linked to terrorist organizations trafficking drugs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed Congress on the operations.[1]
Yet military personnel reportedly sought external legal advice over potential personal liability.[1]
Key Takeaways
- This marks the first U.S. federal court challenge to the strikes.
- Families demand truth after no official death notices.
- Broader campaign persists despite legal and congressional scrutiny.
As the case advances, it spotlights tensions between anti-drug zeal and due process at sea. Families await answers that could reshape accountability in international waters. What do you think about the balance between security and justice here? Tell us in the comments.
