Mariam Ashalem De Andres
21 September 2026•Update: 21 September 2026
UN special rapporteur Ben Saul has warned that US attacks on suspected drug-trafficking boats could amount to crimes against humanity and said there are reasonable grounds to consider the strikes unlawful under international law.
In a statement, he said US forces have killed at least 223 people in attacks on suspected drug-trafficking vessels since Sept. 2, 2025, in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific.
Washington has described the targeted vessels as being involved in drug trafficking.
Saul questioned the legal basis for using military force against suspected traffickers, saying drug trafficking does not by itself constitute an armed attack that would justify the use of force in self-defense under international law.
He said suspected traffickers should instead be dealt with through law enforcement measures and due process.
The UN expert also raised concerns over reports of covert operations in Mexico, including alleged targeted killings of cartel leaders and surveillance flights by foreign drones over Mexican territory.
The reports have not been independently verified, and Saul did not attribute the alleged operations to a specific country.
He warned that foreign military operations carried out in Mexico without authorization could violate the country's sovereignty.
The concerns come amid growing US pressure on Mexico over drug trafficking and organized crime. US President Donald Trump has advocated stronger action against drug cartels, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected unilateral US military intervention in Mexico.
Saul and other UN experts have called for independent investigations into the deaths and accountability for those responsible if the strikes are found to have violated international law.
The UN special rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, and his statements do not necessarily represent the position of the United Nations.
