How Trump's drug war airstrikes impact Colombian island fishers 2026

Trump's drug war airstrikes in the Caribbean have devastated the fishing communities of the English-speaking Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providence, leaving at least 16 fishers missing since January and turning emerald waters into ‘mass graves.’

The Raizal People and Their Language

Officially part of Colombia, the islands are home to the Raizal people, an Afro-descendant population whose primary language is a Caribbean English Creole, not Spanish. Their brightly painted wooden houses and verandas reflect a culture more akin to the southern US or other Caribbean islands.

Drug Trafficking Recruitment

Young men with seafaring skills have long been recruited by drug cartels to move cocaine northward. This trend has accelerated dramatically since the US began bombing speedboats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. According to UN reports, the airstrikes have killed 215 people since September, with the UN condemning them as “extrajudicial killings.”

Impact on Local Fishers

Edgar Jay Stephens, president of the main local fishers association I-Fish, reports that at least 16 fishers from San Andrés and Providence have gone missing since January. While some may have been involved in drug transport, Stephens insists “certainly not all” were. The disappearances are not new, but the current pace is unprecedented. The US Southern Command, which conducts the airstrikes, stated it has no information of any civilian casualties.

Key Takeaways

• Trump’s drug war airstrikes have escalated in the Caribbean, targeting speedboats.
• San Andrés and Providence islands’ Raizal fishermen are disproportionately affected.
• At least 16 fishers missing since January 2025; UN condemns airstrikes as extrajudicial.
• Local communities fear the waters have become ‘mass graves.’

FAQ

The situation on these Colombian islands highlights the humanitarian cost of US anti-drug operations. As local leaders call for accountability, the families of missing fishers continue to search for answers.