The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act Authorizes the Sinking of Drug Boats

Even Chuck Schumer voted “Yes” for the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act of 1986 authorizing the military to fire on drug smuggling boats. The House approved it 392-16 and Senate approved it 97-2.

The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA), implemented in 1986 by the United States, is a piece of legislation combatting the illegal drug trade. The MDLEA establishes that it is illegal for anyone on board a vessel belonging to the United States or within their jurisdiction to deliberately produce or disseminate psychotropic substances. The Act is notable for its extraterritorial jurisdiction and its lack of nexus requirement. The Act provides that the United States jurisdiction reaches any vessel “registered in a foreign nation where the flag nation has consented or waived objection to the enforcement of the United States law by the United States.”

In recent years the MDLEA has been met with controversy as it permits the military the authority to reach and imprison drug traffickers or stop them by any means who are operating over international waters and foreign citizens who are not located on board the watercraft but operating overseas or as a conspirator.

©2025 Conservative Commandos Radio Show and AUN-TV. All rights reserved.