An eighth U.S. Navy warship, the USS Stockdale, has arrived in the Caribbean to strengthen counter-cartel operations near Venezuela.

The growing naval presence, including air support from F-35 jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones, aims to detect, monitor, and interdict illicit trafficking while supporting homeland security.

Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments are conducting boardings and seizures where authorized, while the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit provide crisis-response capabilities.

The mission aligns with the U.S. administration’s designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, enabling broader law-enforcement and international coordination tools.

Legal experts warn that using military forces against criminal groups could blur the lines between police and military authority and challenge domestic and international law.

U.S. officials have also posted a reward linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom they accuse of directing criminal operations, the Express has reported.

Lawmakers and scholars are calling for clear rules of engagement and congressional oversight amid increasing scrutiny of lethal interdictions at sea.