President Donald Trump and top U.S. officials have alleged the craft were being operated by narco-terrorists and cartel members bound with deadly drugs for American communities. The residents and relatives interviewed by the AP requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals from drug smugglers, the Venezuelan government or the Trump administration. Trump has said each sunken boat has saved 25,000 American lives, presumably from overdoses. One of the first to die(AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin) AP Illustration via APAdvertisementLuis “Che” Martínez was killed in the first strike. (AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin) AP Illustration via APAdvertisementVillagers said they were not surprised that Fuentes, who had no nautical experience, turned to smuggling to make ends meet.
