UPDATE - Pentagon chief announces new counter-narcotics joint task force to 'crush the cartels'

​​​​​​​ADDS SOUTHCOM'S STATEMENT

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced Friday that his agency is forming a joint task force operating in the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility to target drug trafficking organizations.

Hegseth said the force is being established at President Donald Trump's direction "to crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe."

"The message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold," he said on the US social media company X.

Since last month, the US has carried out at least four strikes in the Caribbean Sea against vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs recently conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela.

Later, SOUTHCOM released a statement saying that the establishment of the force under II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) is to synchronize and augment counter-narcotics efforts across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Transnational criminal organizations threaten the security, prosperity, and health of our hemisphere,” said Adm. Alvin Holsey, SOUTHCOM Commander.

The force will enhance the ability to "detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit trafficking networks faster and at greater depth," he added.

According to the statement, the key objectives of the new force include, identifying drug shipments, expanding real-time intelligence fusion, conducting joint training and advisory support to partners.