The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights affirmed that reported attacks on vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean constitute extrajudicial executions. The report notes that these actions violate international standards and put the lives of people who have not received a fair trial at risk.
According to the UN, the operations have been carried out primarily in international waters in the Caribbean, where naval forces from various countries have opened fire on speedboats allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The organization warns that the use of lethal force in these cases fails to comply with the obligations of proportionality or due process.
The High Commissioner emphasized that, although States have a responsibility to combat drug trafficking, they must do so in compliance with international law and respect for human rights. The report calls on the governments involved to halt these practices and ensure accountability mechanisms.
The UN also urged the establishment of clear protocols that prioritize the arrest and prosecution of suspects, rather than resorting to measures that result in extrajudicial executions. According to the organization, the fight against organized crime cannot justify the violation of basic human rights principles.