Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Drug-boat crews face U.S. military threats
There are special boats called 'go-fast' boats that carry drugs from Colombia to the U.S. These boats are fast and hard to catch.
The people who work on these boats are very skilled and know the sea well.
They make a lot of money, but it's also very dangerous.
The U.S. military is now attacking these boats, which makes the job even riskier.
The crews have to decide if the big paycheck is worth the danger.
Some are scared and thinking twice about taking the job, especially since the U.S. considers them terrorists and targets them.
The boats are part of a bigger drug network that includes many people, from farmers to middlemen.
The crews are like freelancers, hired for specific jobs.
Despite the risks, the drug trade continues because the ocean is big, and there are many ways to move the drugs.
Drug-boat crews, known as 'go-fast' boats, ferry cocaine from Colombia to the U.S.
Crews face new threats from U.S. military strikes, which have killed 83 people in more than 20 attacks
Boats are 40 feet long, made of fiberglass, and powered by large outboards, carrying cargo worth up to $70 million
Crews consist of 3-4 men, including a pilot, mechanic, guarantor, and sometimes a navigator, with pilots earning up to $100,000 per run
Despite the risks, the drug trade continues due to the vastness of the ocean and the high pay, with crews calculating whether the payout is worth the danger
- Who
- Drug-boat crews, U.S. military, Colombian prosecutors, drug traffickers
- What
- Drug-boat crews ferrying cocaine to the U.S. face new threats from U.S. military strikes
- When
- The U.S. military has conducted more than 20 strikes since early September
- Where
- Colombian coastline, Caribbean and Pacific Oceans
- Why
- U.S. considers drug traffickers as terrorists and targets them to choke the flow of drugs
- Boat Type
- Go-fast boats
- Boat Length
- 40 feet
- Crew Size
- 3-4 men
- Cocaine Value per Run
- Up to $70 million
- U.S. Military Strikes
- More than 20 strikes, 83 people killed
- Colombian Coastline
- 2,000 miles