Police in the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago told CBS News that they are investigating reports that two of the country’s citizens were among the six people killed in the United States’ most recent strike on a boat it said was carrying drugs.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said it was “aware of the reports” that citizens of the country, which lies less than 10 miles off the coast Venezuela, had been on the vessel. Police said they are conducting inquiries, but said that the information “is yet to be fully verified through official channels” and said they could not confirm any details. The agency said a statement would be released once information was verified, and asked for “patience and understanding” amid “this complex situation.”
Police said in a phone interview with Agence France-Presse that residents of the village of Las Cuevas reported two Trinidadians were believed to be on the sunken vessel.
The strikes come amid rising tensions with Venezuela. Mr. Trump told CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe on Wednesday that he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in the country. The president also said his administration is looking into potential land strikes against Venezuela. There has been a major build-up of U.S. forces the region in recent weeks. The U.S. Justice Department in August doubled a bounty for information leading to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s capture to $50 million.
Maduro has accused Washington of plotting regime change, CBS News previously reported, and has called recent U.S.’ actions “aggression”, following up by ordering new military exercises on Wednesday. He is widely accused of winning re-election last year through fraud and Mr. Trump alleges that he is the head of a drug cartel, which the Venezuelan leader denies.
