# Mass murder on the high seas (Venezuelan "drug boat") **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910 "2025-09-10T13:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/101 "2025-10-23T16:54:19Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > he’s now lowered OD deaths by 2000%, and that number will only go up. People waking up in the morgue (or worse!), and if these numbers go up, junkies will be spontaneously generating out of thin air. But at least they can live on the money that is showing up from reducing the cost of prescription meds by 1500%. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/102 "2025-10-23T17:01:39Z")
For the record, Politifact has actually taken the time to debunk the absurd claim, as if it’s necessary. > **[Fact-checking Trump's claim that each boat strike off Venezuela's coast saves...](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-claim-that-each-boat-strike-off-venezuelas-coast-saves-25000-lives)** > > President Donald Trump said U.S. military strikes on five Venezuelan boats have saved more than 100,000 lives because the maneuvers thwarted drug smuggling. Several aspects of Trump’s statement make it wrong. I think it’s best to just give the end conclusion: > We rate Trump’s statement Pants on Fire! ​ (Actual quote from the article.) > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > For all we know Trump has been blowing up fishing boats and the cartels are glad to have them out of the way. The one survivor from the attacks _does_ have a prior drug trafficking conviction. > **[He survived a US military boat strike. Despite a drug record, his family says...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/americas/caribbean-strike-survivor-ecuador-drug-smuggling-latam-intl)** > > The last time Andrés Fernando Tufiño Chila’s sister heard from him was about a year ago when he told her he was heading out to fish for work, she said. Last week, she was shocked to learn that her brother was aboard an alleged drug vessel that was... That doesn’t prove that everyone killed is a drug trafficker, but it’s possible. Still, how much good is it really doing? From that article: > The Trump administration says they’re about saving American lives from drug overdoses. But most US overdose deaths aren’t from cocaine. They’re from [fentanyl](https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/politics/venezuela-drug-boats-trump?cid=ios_app), largely produced in Mexico and smuggled over the border by land, often by US citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/103 "2025-10-23T17:03:52Z")
“The Trump administration says…” Well, alrighty then! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/104 "2025-10-23T17:13:48Z")
As all carbonated beverages are cokes, all illicit drugs are fentanyl. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/105 "2025-10-23T17:21:26Z")
“Sprite is Coke, and coke is fentanyl, so Sprite is fentanyl!!!” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/106 "2025-10-23T17:26:31Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > As all carbonated beverages are cokes, all illicit drugs are fentanyl. > [@Atamasama](#): > > “Sprite is Coke, and coke is fentanyl, so Sprite is fentanyl!!!” [Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approves](https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/03/nx-s1-5349657/rfk-jr-snap-soda-health)… /s ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/107 "2025-10-23T17:48:48Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The one survivor from the attacks _does_ have a prior drug trafficking conviction. Still would love to know when drug trafficking became instant death sentence with no trial. It appears Trump is mimicking his hero Rodrigo Duterte. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/108 "2025-10-23T17:49:56Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Still would love to know when drug trafficking became instant death sentence with no trial. [![](https://media.tenor.com/a9HjoG5-SHAAAAAM/south-park.gif) ](https://media.tenor.com/a9HjoG5-SHAAAAAM/south-park.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/109 "2025-10-25T12:54:18Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bqEGtthhw3I/maxresdefault.jpg "Donald Trump MAKES HIS MOST DANGEROUS REMARKS YET – He Might be Legit Insane!!!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqEGtthhw3I) ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/110 "2025-10-25T13:55:28Z")
I tried to have a conversation about this topic with a trump fan this morning. She actually said she didn’t want to talk about it and that she’d rather live in denial. I don’t know how we fight this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/111 "2025-10-25T14:03:20Z")
Send him to The Hague. In a diplomatic pouch (thanks, 007). ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/112 "2025-10-25T16:17:19Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I don’t know how we fight this sort of thing. I believe the term you are looking for is _deprogramming_, or perhaps more specifically, “DeMAGAfying”. Here’s an example, although it’s kind of labor intensive and not practicable to being scaled up to a mass audience: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TfowHrDZ9iw/maxresdefault.jpg "DeTammying Jamm | Parks and Recreation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfowHrDZ9iw) > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Send him to The Hague. In a diplomatic pouch (thanks, 007). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KBq8m6uBeQ8/maxresdefault.jpg "Final Scene | THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1989) Movie CLIP HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBq8m6uBeQ8&t=187s) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/113 "2025-10-25T16:54:54Z")
Q: What if Venezuela fought back? They have oil that can be exported which would give them cash to buy arms from China and Russia. What if they buy one of those nuclear drone torpedos and launch it at/near the US ships or even at/near Florida…? This pissing match of Trumps could go bad quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/114 "2025-10-25T17:05:32Z")
Trump’s Congressional enablers should never be forgiven or forgotten. It’s all on them. He keeps pushing and they never push back. He’s made their jobs easy- no oversight. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/115 "2025-10-25T18:14:24Z")
You seem to think that Venezuelans have some sort of death wish. They may try and sink some destroyer with conventional means _may be_. But using nukes is just plain suicide. If they had them the best use for them is announcing you have them and plan to use them in case of invasion. Actually using them for anything else is extremely unwise. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/116 "2025-10-25T18:23:14Z")
What’s the over/under on the date for a full scale invasion of Venezuela? Because it is increasingly obvious that it’s coming. Also what are the odds of Congressional approval for a war, rather than Trump just starting one? I’d put that at about a 3% chance of Congress doing anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/117 "2025-10-25T18:24:34Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’d put that at about a 3% chance of Congress doing anything at all. No, no, I disagree. There are a few people in Congress who will furrow their brows and express concern. I mean, more than that though, yeah 3% seems right. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/118 "2025-10-25T18:29:35Z")
Yes, the days of any requirement for congressional approval are in the past. Until/If a Democrat takes the helm. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/119 "2025-10-25T19:40:38Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > What’s the over/under on the date for a full scale invasion of Venezuela? Because it is increasingly obvious that it’s coming. Oh, great. Jungle warfare where we are in someone else’s country. It worked out so well for us in Vietnam… and our easy victories in Burma. /s Just send in Stallone and his smelly pits will stink them all to death. In truth the only thing that I know for sure is that in America, there are some Very Stupid People in charge right now. “Very dangerous, Sahibe. You go first.” PS- I seem to remember that Venezuela was selling a lot of its oil to China. China would probably want that to continue. They might just ship in troops and weapons through Colombia to protect a vital oil source. Assuming that what TIME reported in 1978 is true ( that the Locks could be disabled with a hand grenade ) the entire South Pacific could become a naval war zone. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910/120 "2025-10-25T21:55:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > > I’d put that at about a 3% chance of Congress doing anything at all. > > No, no, I disagree. There are a few people in Congress who will furrow their brows and express concern. > > I mean, more than that though, yeah 3% seems right. You guys are way more optimistic than I am. The Republican-dominated Congress has aptly demonstrated that it will not only do anything to interfere with the regime’s program or make even token efforts to protect its own prerogatives such as the levying of tariffs, making decisions about major restructuring of agencies or physical infrastructure, or rejecting appointments of clearly unqualified people to positions of high executive authority, but will actively facilitate Trump’s agenda and purge its ranks of anyone who speaks out against it or argues that Donald Trump is mentally, emotionally, and morally unfit to hold the office of President, even going so far as to threaten persecution, physical harm, and to even censure and defame family members of opponents who themselves have no political ambitions. They are, and I use this term in the vernacular of The Hound, “a bunch of useless cunts.” > [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > PS- I seem to remember that Venezuela was selling a lot of its oil to China. China would probably want that to continue. They might just ship in troops and weapons through Colombia to protect a vital oil source. Assuming that what TIME reported in 1978 is true ( that the Locks could be disabled with a hand grenade ) the entire South Pacific could become a naval war zone. Although China definitely needs petroleum military operations is decarbonizing its economy faster than any other industrial nation save for Germany (and maybe even surpassing that in the next few years). They’ve also been extensively developing syngas methods and sources in the case that they are cut off from external petroleum supplies. It is not going send troops to a futile war halfway around the world just to protect Venezuela. On the other hand, it might send just enough aid to get the United States bogged down there and not applying the resources to strengthening its position in the Pacific Rim or aiding allies like Japan and South Korea. Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-murder-on-the-high-seas-venezuelan-drug-boat/1022910.md?page=7)