Lizbeth Perez stands by the serene fishing bay of Taganga, a picturesque spot on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, her expression marked by fear and uncertainty. She recalls the last time she spoke to her uncle, Alejandro Carranza, in September—a man she describes as kind, cheerful, and devoted to both his family and his work as a fisherman. But since that day, she has not seen him, and the fate of Alejandro remains shrouded in mystery.
On the morning of 14 September, Alejandro said goodbye to his family before heading out to sea on his boat as he had done countless times before. According to his cousin Audenis Manjarres, Alejandro departed from La Guajira, a region in neighboring Venezuela. The following day, however, the world learned that a US military strike had targeted a vessel in international waters, one that had also departed Venezuela. US President Donald Trump announced that the strike killed three individuals whom he labeled as “extraordinarily violent drug-trafficking cartels and narco-terrorists.”
Since then, Lizbeth and the rest of Alejandro’s family have been left in limbo. His five children miss their father deeply, but no one knows for sure if Alejandro was indeed on the boat destroyed in the strike. “The truth is we don’t know it was him,” Lizbeth says. “We don’t have any proof that it was him, apart from what we saw on the news.” This uncertainty has left the family anxiously awaiting answers, caught between grief and doubt.
The US campaign against drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean began in September, later expanding to the Pacific Ocean. According to official statements, at least 21 strikes have been carried out so far, resulting in 83 deaths. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the operation as an effort to remove “narco-terrorists from our hemisphere” and to protect the United States from the influx of dangerous drugs that are “killing our people.” The Trump administration defends the strikes as necessary acts of self-defense, aimed at preventing drugs from reaching American shores and saving lives.
However, these military actions have sparked significant controversy and condemnation throughout the region. Many countries have expressed concern that the strikes may violate international law, particularly regarding sovereignty and the use of force in international waters. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has been especially vocal in his criticism, highlighting that Colombian citizens were aboard the vessel struck on 15 September, and claiming that Alejandro Carranza was among those killed.
In response, the White House dismissed Petro’s allegations as “baseless and reprehensible,” urging the Colombian president to retract his statements publicly. The tension between the two leaders escalated further when Trump accused Petro of encouraging drug production and threatened to cut US aid to Colombia. This diplomatic friction underscores the complexity and sensitivity surrounding the US’s drug interdiction strategy in the region.
Alejandro Carranza’s family lives together in a modest house near the fishing village of Gaira, surrounded by about 20 relatives. Earlier in the month, President Petro suggested that Alejandro had been trying to help his daughter attend university and accepted payment from a drug trafficker to transport drugs to an island. Petro emphasized, however, that whether Alejandro was carrying fish or cocaine, he was not subject to the death penalty and accused the US of outright “murder.” Following these remarks, Petro ordered Colombian security forces to suspend intelligence sharing with the US until the strikes cease. Nevertheless, Colombia’s defense minister later clarified that cooperation with international agencies to combat drug trafficking would continue.
Alejandro’s past includes a criminal record from nine years ago for stealing police weapons, but his family rejects the characterization of him as a drug trafficker. They are deeply hurt by such accusations. Lizbeth insists that the US government must provide proof before labeling her uncle a criminal. “What the president of the United States is doing isn’t right,” she says. “He has to prove if they are or aren’t [trafficking].” She also questions the morality of the US’s methods, stating that while Trump may want to address issues within his territory, it should not be at the cost of taking lives without due process.
Representing Alejandro’s family, US lawyer Daniel Kovalik—who also works with President Petro—has stated that Alejandro’s wife and older daughter recognized his boat from footage released by the US of the strike. Kovalik intends to sue the US government on behalf of the family, arguing that international law prohibits