Former President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. military knocked out a “big facility” allegedly used to manufacture boats involved in drug trafficking to the United States.

Trump made the claim during a radio interview with WABC radio host John Catsimatidis, as part of broader comments on U.S. anti-drug operations in the Caribbean and near Venezuela. We reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.

Why It Matters

Trump’s remarks suggest a potential escalation of U.S. military activity linked to drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean region.

The comments also come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Venezuela, where U.S. forces have recently seized oil tankers and targeted suspected smuggling routes, raising concerns about broader conflict.

What To Know

Speaking Friday morning, Trump said the U.S. military destroyed a large facility where boats used to transport drugs to the United States were allegedly built. He claimed the strike took place “two nights ago,” but did not identify the location or provide operational details, according to The Express.

“We just knocked out… a big facility where the ships come from,” Trump said, adding that targeting such boats saves “25,000 American lives” each time one is destroyed.

Trump said the strike was part of a months-long campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels allegedly originating from Venezuela. He did not confirm whether the facility was located on Venezuelan territory.

The remarks follow previous statements Trump made in a NBC News interview on Dec. 19, in which he said military conflict with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was “not ruled out.”

In addition to boat strikes, Trump confirmed this week that the U.S. Coast Guard has seized at least two oil tankers near Venezuela and is pursuing a third vessel in international waters. Trump said the tankers were sanctioned and that the U.S. would retain the seized oil.

Caveat: Trump did not provide evidence supporting the claim that the destroyed facility was used to manufacture drug smuggling boats, nor did he specify the location, responsible military unit, or legal authority for the strike. The Department of Defense has not publicly confirmed the operation, as noted in The Express reporting.

What People Are Saying

Donald Trump, speaking on WABC radio, said: “Every time we knock out a boat, we save 25,000 American lives. It’s very simple.”

Trump added: “Two nights ago, we knocked that out, so we hit them very hard.”

Venezuelan officials have previously described U.S. tanker seizures as “piracy,” according to statements cited by international media including Reuters.

What Happens Next

No independent confirmation of the alleged strike has been released by U.S. military officials. Venezuelan authorities have not publicly responded to Trump’s latest remarks, and no congressional action related to the claim has been announced.