In a significant joint operation, authorities in the Dominican Republic, in collaboration with the United States, intercepted a boat carrying approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine off the Dominican coast. The operation, conducted on Saturday, was part of the United States Southern Command’s initiative, Operation Southern Spear, aimed at combating drug trafficking in the region. The National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) stated that the operation involved extensive efforts by air, sea, and land to capture the suspects and seize the narcotics. Two Dominican nationals were arrested, and 484 packets of cocaine were confiscated from the 27-foot-long boat, which was equipped with two outboard motors. The DNCD emphasized its close cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in executing this operation. Operation Southern Spear, announced by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is part of a broader military deployment in Latin America to target drug-running operations allegedly managed by ‘narco-terrorist’ cartels. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused US President Donald Trump of planning operations to overthrow his government. Since September, the US has conducted strikes on 21 suspected drug-trafficking boats in the region, resulting in at least 80 deaths. The US has also accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel and has offered a $50 million reward for his capture. On Friday, Trump hinted at having ‘sort of’ decided his next steps regarding Venezuela but provided no further details.