Maritime and International Laws relevant to the Narco Boats

US actions against narco boats near Venezuela

 1. International Waters = No Venezuelan Jurisdiction

The key point:

Shipping lanes off Venezuela are in international waters.  Venezuela’s territorial sea only goes out 12 nautical miles. Most narco-subs are intercepted 50–300 nautical miles offshore.

If the U.S. sinks a vessel there, Venezuela has zero legal say. This is the same everywhere on Earth.

2. The Vessel Is “Stateless,” So It Has No Sovereign Protection

This is the actual legal kill switch. If a vessel:

• has no flag
• has no registration
• captain refuses to claim nationality
• Venezuela does not confirm registration when asked

…it becomes stateless by law.

A stateless vessel on the high seas is treated as a legal orphan.
No nation owns it → no nation can complain → full U.S. jurisdiction.

This comes from:

• MDLEA (46 U.S.C. §§ 70502–70503)

→ U.S. has jurisdiction over any stateless vessel trafficking drugs.

• Customary International Law (UNCLOS Articles 92 & 110)

→ Stateless = no protection = any state may board, seize, detain, and dispose.

Venezuela can scream politically, but legally they have nothing.

3. The Coast Guard Has Explicit Authority to Destroy Hazardous or Unseaworthy Vessels

Once a vessel is:

• seized,
• abandoned,
• scuttled by the crew, or
• structurally unsafe,

the U.S. Coast Guard can destroy it to protect navigation.

14 U.S.C. § 521, § 522, § 504
Gives the Coast Guard explicit federal authority to:

• seize vessels
• destroy hazards
• use necessary force

A semi-submersible narco-boat is by definition a hazard — they’re fiberglass coffins designed to sink.

Destroying them near shipping lanes is often safer than towing them.

4. U.S. Counter-Narcotics Authority (10 U.S.C. §§ 124 & 284)

These laws allow:

• Navy support
• Detection and monitoring
• Interdiction of drug trafficking
• Neutralisation of uncontrolled vessels

This is why you often see Navy ships assisting the Coast Guard.

Even near Venezuela, as long as it’s outside 12 nm, this is fully legal.

5. The “Hot Pursuit” Doctrine

If the boat flees from Venezuelan waters into international waters:

→ U.S. forces can continue the pursuit and disable it.

This is a globally recognised rule under customary international law.

6. The Cartagena Consensus / Regional Anti-Drug Agreements

Colombia, the U.S., Panama, Costa Rica, Netherlands (Aruba & Curaçao), and others have agreements that allow:

• boarding in shared operational zones
• pursuit across boundaries
• interdiction near Venezuela’s maritime neighbourhood

Venezuela never agreed — but they also do not control those waters.

THE BLUNT REALITY

Venezuela cannot stop the U.S. from sinking narco-subs because:

1. It’s outside their waters
2. The vessels are stateless
3. Drug trafficking has universal jurisdiction characteristics
4. The U.S. has explicit domestic laws empowering interdiction
5. International maritime law backs boarding & disposal of stateless craft
6. Narco subs are hazards; destroying them is legal and prudent
7. Nobody is going to defend a cartel vessel’s “sovereign rights”

The U.S. does it because they legally can, and nobody with a navy big enough to object wants to defend cartel assets.