01/04/2026
The family of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza Medina, killed in a U.S. military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean on September 15, 2025, has filed a formal human rights complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The complaint, submitted on December 3, 2025, alleges the U.S. government is responsible for an "extrajudicial killing."
“We know that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was responsible for ordering the bombing … and the murder of all those on such boats,” the family’s petition states.
The case marks the first formal complaint related to the U.S. military’s maritime operations targeting drug-trafficking vessels. The complaint questions whether civilians, including fishermen, were unlawfully killed during these strikes. It comes as the U.S. government defends its operations, which are often described as part of anti-drug enforcement efforts.
The filing of this human rights complaint puts a spotlight on the legality of U.S. naval strikes in international waters. Human rights advocates have condemned the deaths of civilians in these operations and called for greater oversight of military actions.
This case follows a broader pattern of concerns regarding the use of military force against suspected drug vessels, raising critical questions about the accountability of such actions. While the U.S. argues that the strikes were aimed at stopping criminal activity, critics maintain that civilian casualties could signal violations of international law.
The complaint is expected to prompt international scrutiny and could lead to further discussions on the legality and ethics of these maritime operations.
