US President Donald Trump said the “lethal strike” against an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel on September 2 would discourage cartels from trafficking drugs to the US.

Speaking during a media conference at the White House on September 3, Trump was asked why the US did not intercept the boat and arrest those on board. He said,

“On the boat was massive amounts of drugs. We have tapes of them speaking. On the boat, there was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands that. In fact you see it, you see the bags of drugs all over.