WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the first known attack since the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and that the strike killed two people and left one survivor. It said it notified the Coast Guard to launch search and rescue operations for that person.
A video accompanying the post announcing the latest strike shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. The U.S. military has focused lately on seizing sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela since the Trump administration launched an audacious raid to capture Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
With the latest military action, there have been 36 known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters since early September that killed at least 117 people, according to announcements from the U.S. military and Trump. The majority of those of strikes have occurred in the Caribbean Sea.
The last reported boat strikes occurred in late December, when the military said it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, killing a total of eight people while others jumped overboard. Days later, the Coast Guard suspended its search.
The U.S. conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3 that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were then flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.
Maduro, before his capture, said the U.S. military operations were a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. strikes targeting alleged smugglers are having an enormous impact on slowing drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
“We’ve stopped — virtually stopped almost 100% of all drugs coming in by water,” Trump said in remarks on Thursday at the World Economic Forum at Davos.
President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio guard Stephon Castle had a career-high 40 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his second career triple-double, leading the Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 138-125 on Saturday.
Devin Vassell had 17 points and Victor Wembanyama added 16 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which set a season high for points in a half with 81 before halftime.
The Spurs (36-16) won their fourth straight and ninth in 12 games to remain second in the Western Conference.
Dallas, which lost 135-123 at San Antonio on Thursday night, got 19 points from Klay Thompson, 18 from Brandon Williams and 17 from Max Christie. Cooper Flagg finished with 14 points.
Castle joins Hall of Famer David Robinson as the only Spurs in franchise history with a 40-point triple-double.
The second-year guard from Connecticut punctuated his triple-double by following up a miss with a windmill dunk that put San Antonio up 129-108 with 6:26 remaining.
Castle’s first triple-double was Nov. 12, 2025, against the Golden State Warriors when he had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 125-120 loss the Golden State Warriors.
Marvin Bagley III, A.J. Johnson and Tyus Jones all debuted for Dallas. Bagley and Johnson were acquired in a trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington and Jones was part of a subsequent deal with Charlotte for Malaki Branham.
Bagley had an immediate impact, scoring eight points in his first five minutes off the bench while powering down two dunks and blocking shots by Vassell and Harrison Barnes.
Bagley finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
San Antonio will not play in the Frost Bank Center again until March 5 as they embark on their annual Rodeo Road Trip. The Spurs will play two games in Austin during that road trip that are considered home games.
Mavericks: At Phoenix on Tuesday night.
Timberwolves: At Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) scores over Dallas Mavericks forward Klay Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) drives against Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III (35) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
