Operation Southern Spear has cost more than $640 million
Operation Southern Spear — the name given to the U.S. military mission to stop the flow of illegal drugs in the Caribbean Sea with the lethal targeting of mariners accused of smuggling — has cost more than $600 million from the time the mission started through the first quarter of 2026.
TL;DR
- Operation Southern Spear has cost over $600 million as of the first quarter of 2026.
- The U.S. military mission targets maritime drug smugglers in the Caribbean using lethal force.
- A Department of War Office of the Inspector General report states the cost was approximately $647 million by March 31, 2026.
- The mission involves lethal interdictions, a change from historical Coast Guard methods, to deter cartels.
- The criteria for SOUTHCOM's decision-making on lethal targeting versus Coast Guard interdiction is unclear and under review.