A Speedboat, 11 “Drug Dealers,” and Trump’s Theater of the Absurd

The latest spectacle from the Trump Administration asks us to believe a story straight out of a bad action movie: eleven alleged drug dealers crammed into a speedboat, supposedly loaded with drugs, departing Venezuela and bound for the United States.

On its face, this narrative makes little sense. Let’s break it down.

The Geography Problem

The distance from Venezuela to the southern United States is thousands of miles. A speedboat, no matter how powerful, isn’t a transoceanic vessel. With limited fuel capacity, no storage for provisions, and no logical refueling plan, the claim that such a boat was en route to the U.S. is laughable. Was this boat expected to cross the entire Caribbean on one tank of gas?

The People Smuggling Possibility

If there really were eleven people on board, the far more likely explanation is that the boat was being used to smuggle people, not drugs. Drug shipments are usually lighter on manpower, relying on cargo space for product, not passengers. Eleven bodies packed into one speedboat suggests human cargo more than narcotics.

The International Waters Issue

Another glaring concern is legality. Reports suggest the incident took place in international waters, which complicates any U.S. military action. Blowing up boats in international waters—without transparent evidence or due process—raises serious questions about whether these actions violate international law. Maritime law exists for a reason, and military adventurism outside of it risks setting dangerous precedents.

The Narrative of Fear

Perhaps the most troubling aspect is how this story fits a familiar pattern: the use of fear to justify spectacle. Instead of data-driven strategies to reduce drug trafficking, we see explosive headlines about intercepted boats and “drug dealers neutralized.” These sensational stories aren’t about solving a problem; they’re about creating an image of toughness, even if the facts don’t add up.

Déjà Vu: Another Boat Blown Up

And now comes word of a second incident: another vessel allegedly filled with three drug dealers, blown up at sea. Again, the story strains credulity. Where is the evidence? Where are the drugs that supposedly justify this extreme response? Where is the international accountability for what is effectively an execution without trial?

What Really Works

If the administration were serious about addressing drug trafficking, it would focus on evidence-based solutions: disrupting supply chains through intelligence sharing, investing in rehabilitation and prevention programs at home, and strengthening international partnerships to address the root causes of the trade.

Instead, we get made-for-TV stunts, designed less to solve problems than to dominate the news cycle.

Why It Matters

Theatrics may play well to a political base hungry for “decisive action,” but they do little to address real issues. Worse, they may undermine U.S. credibility on the world stage, damage relationships with allies, and raise human rights concerns. The drug trade is a serious problem. Treating it like a photo op insults both the public and the families who have suffered from its impact.

It’s time we demand accountability, transparency, and common sense in how these operations are conducted. Because speedboats loaded with a dozen men and “tons of drugs” heading thousands of miles across open water? That’s not policy. That’s propaganda.