In a landmark move with major geopolitical consequences, the family of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza has filed the first known human rights complaint against the United States for a deadly maritime strike carried out in the Caribbean. The petition, submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), accuses the US government of performing an extra-judicial killing under the guise of anti-narcotics operations.

The complaint could become a watershed moment in the escalating controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive “drug-interdiction strike doctrine,” which has already resulted in at least 22 deadly attacks and more than 83 deaths since September.

A Fisherman Caught in the Crossfire

Carranza was believed to be fishing for marlin and tuna off Colombia’s northern coast when the US strike occurred on September 15. The White House later released a video on Truth Social showing a vessel engulfed in flames, claiming it carried “three narcoterrorists from Venezuela.”

But human rights attorney Dan Kovalik, representing Carranza’s family, says this narrative is false.

“He was a fisherman — this was his livelihood,” Kovalik said. “This was an unlawful killing, and it must be stopped.”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro publicly backed the family’s claims, saying Carranza had no cartel connections and was signaling distress over engine issues. Petro later noted Carranza might have carried prohibited goods in desperation — but emphasized this did not justify a military execution.

The Pentagon’s Justification — and the Legal Clash

The Trump administration argues the strikes fall under the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) because the targeted boats allegedly belonged to dozens of violent drug cartels it classifies as “narco-terrorist groups.”

Washington insists:

• The boats are part of an armed hostile network

• The United States is engaged in an armed conflict with these cartels

• Maritime strikes are lawful self-defense

But legal experts — including former ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo — say the justification is untenable.

Why critics say the strikes violate international law

• Drug cartels are criminal groups, not armed forces
• LOAC does not apply outside wartime zones
• Striking a civilian vessel with no clear threat is unlawful killing
• Survivors reportedly targeted in “double-tap” follow-up strikes

This complaint could test, for the first time, whether the US can claim self-defense against non-state actors beyond its borders.

Inside the IACHR Complaint

The petition accuses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of:

• Ordering the strike that killed Carranza
• Authorizing rules of engagement that violate LOAC
• “Murder of civilians” aboard suspected drug boats
• Acting with approval from President Donald Trump

The complaint demands:

• Financial compensation for Carranza’s family
• A halt to extraterritorial lethal strikes
• An international inquiry into US actions

If accepted, the IACHR could recommend formal reparations and demand structural reforms — a rare international challenge to US military policy.

Escalation of US Strikes Since September

Since early September, the US has carried out at least:

• 22 missile or drone strikes
• Across the Caribbean and Pacific
• Resulting in 83+ confirmed deaths

The Pentagon insists these numbers are “operationally classified,” but Colombian and regional authorities have tracked a rising death toll.

This complaint is likely the first of many, Kovalik says:

“We expect more families to come forward. They deserve justice.”

Colombia Reacts — Petro Calls It a Crime

President Gustavo Petro has demanded a Colombian-led legal commission to investigate the attacks, calling them “potential crimes committed in the Caribbean.”

Petro has already clashed with Washington after the US sanctioned him in October, alleging involvement in the drug trade — claims he denies. Hiring Kovalik the same day he was sanctioned suggests Colombia is preparing for a deeper confrontation with the Trump administration.

SGE-Friendly Key Points Summary

• A Colombian family filed the first known complaint against US maritime strikes
• The petition alleges an illegal extra-judicial killing
• US claims LOAC applies to drug cartels; international law experts dispute it
• Colombia says the victim was a fisherman, not a narcotics trafficker
• The case could trigger a series of similar claims
• IACHR may launch an investigation and demand reparations

What Happens Next?

The IACHR will:

1. Evaluate whether the petition is admissible
2. Request formal evidence from Colombia and the United States
3. Potentially launch a full investigation
4. Issue recommendations — including human rights violations, compensation, or policy changes

If more families come forward, Washington could face a multi-case international challenge unlike anything in recent decades.

For now, Carranza’s family has taken the first step.