Three Dead, Smugglers Flee as U.S. Navy Rams Boats

The U.S. military says it used ships to deliberately strike three smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean this week. The action resulted in multiple deaths and forced suspects to jump into the sea. According to U.S. Southern Command, its personnel first intercepted a boat on Tuesday. During that event, the U.S. vessel struck the smuggling boat, killing three people on board. The military then encountered two more suspected smuggling boats. In both cases, individuals aboard those vessels jumped overboard to avoid capture when U.S. ships made contact with them. The command states all incidents are under investigation. The operation was part of a routine counter-narcotics mission. No U.S. personnel were injured.