The Trump administration has largely pointed to the lethality of fentanyl as a justification for the U.S. military strikes on purported drug smuggling vessels linked to Venezuela, but the synthetic drug largely comes into the United States from Mexico .

U.S. servicemembers have conducted at least 16 lethal strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, killing at least 60 people, over the last two months. The administration has pointed the finger at Venezuela , but has not provided evidence that there were drugs on board the targeted vessels or publicly identified those killed.

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