The family of a Colombian man has formally challenged U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats, claiming his death constitutes an extrajudicial killing. The petition, submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleges that Alejandro Carranza was killed when the U.S. military bombed his fishing vessel off Colombia’s Caribbean coast on September 15, 2023.
In their petition, Carranza’s family asserts that the strike violated human rights conventions. They are seeking compensation for the loss of Carranza, who was the primary breadwinner for his four children and spouse. Attorney Daniel Kovalik emphasized that the family turned to the commission due to the challenges they would face in pursuing a federal case in the U.S., which has not recognized the jurisdiction of an international court associated with the commission.
“The U.S. does not subject itself to accountability, so we’re using the avenues we have before us,” Kovalik stated. He expressed hope that a favorable decision, coupled with public pressure, could lead to compensation and an end to similar incidents in the Caribbean.
U.S. military actions have escalated recently, with over 80 people killed since early September as part of operations targeting vessels allegedly transporting drugs towards the United States. The strikes initially began off the coast of Venezuela and have expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean. This military buildup is seen by many as a strategy to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to resign.
The Trump administration has not provided details about the individuals killed in these strikes but maintains that its intelligence confirmed the involvement of foreign terrorist organizations with the targeted vessels. Carranza’s boat was among those struck, resulting in three fatalities. When asked about evidence supporting claims that the vessel carried drugs, President Donald Trump referred to “big bags of cocaine and fentanyl” in the ocean, yet no images or proof have been released to substantiate this assertion.
Kovalik has denied that Carranza’s boat was involved in drug trafficking. He noted that the family had received threats in the wake of Carranza’s death and highlighted the lack of adequate reparative resources available to them in Colombia. “The victims do not have adequate and effective resources in Colombia to obtain reparations,” the petition states, citing fears of retaliation from right-wing paramilitaries for speaking out against Carranza’s killing.
The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment regarding the petition. Scrutiny of the strikes intensified following allegations that Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, issued a verbal order to “kill everybody” on the first targeted vessel, leading to further strikes that reportedly resulted in additional fatalities among survivors. Hegseth has defended the actions taken, stating the admiral involved had the authority to make those decisions.
On September 26, 2023, Trump announced plans for land strikes, hinting that operations may extend beyond Venezuela to countries believed to be manufacturing and selling drugs to the U.S., including Colombia. He stated, “We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live. And we’re going to start that very soon.”
The family’s petition marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over U.S. military actions in the region and raises critical questions about accountability, human rights, and the impact of such operations on civilian lives. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar incidents are addressed in the future.
