Fishermen in Colombia have been left fearing for their lives when out at sea following a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats carried out by the US.

Workers in the coastal city of Santa Marta have reduced how far they venture out due to fear of being killed by American strikes.

Whilst being interviewed, local fisherman Omar Acosta said: "We are a little bit worried about what’s going on here at our coast, with fishermen. We are terrified to go out on the high sea to fish because of what is happening there.

"We are angry and scared, because we just don’t understand why. Why they cruelly killed our coworkers on the high sea. They were in a fishing zone and their motor had broken down and they were viciously killed.

"Honestly we are scared. The fishermen here are very scared. As I said, we don’t go out far to fish anymore, just here near the coast."

Another local worker, Humberto Camaro, said: "They need to check things first because not everybody in this world is a narco trafficker. We all are fishing."

However, Ricky Ponce, another angler, said: "In part I agree with Trump, and in some ways no. If we’re told we can’t pass a line, why do it?"

The Colombian government has condemned US airstrikes off the coast of South America.

The US War Department has responded to these claims with the following statement: “Every action taken by the Department is deliberate, lawful, and precise. The narco-terrorists killed in DoW operations were affiliated members of Designated Terrorist Organizations actively transporting illicit material along known trafficking routes in international waters.”

This video includes Broll and interviews with Colombian fishermen in the town of Santa Marta. Many fishermen say they are worried about the US airstrikes in the Caribbean targeting alleged narcotraffickers. The US recently hit one boat off the coast of Colombia that the Colombian government claims was carrying fishermen. That strike killed three people. Some of these fishermen also claim they knew some of the people who were in that boat and they also believe they were fishing. Many of the fishermen say they have changed how they fish due to the strikes, limiting the distance they go out to sea. The US War Department has responded to these claims with the following statement:

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell:

“Every action taken by the Department is deliberate, lawful, and precise. The narco-terrorists killed in DoW operations were affiliated members of Designated Terrorist Organizations actively transporting illicit material along known trafficking routes in international waters.”

These fishermen tell me that they can legally fish up 12 nautical miles offshore. Many say they have reduced how far they go out to sea as a result of the US bombing campaign. Now they only go out to sea a few miles, which reduces their catch. All three of these fishermen say they have been fishing for decades. They arrive before dawn (5 a.m.) to head out and this video was shot in the early morning and morning.


TRANSCRIPT

Omar Acosta:

1:56: We are a little bit worried about what’s going on here at our coast, with fishermen.

2:09: We are terrified to go out on the high sea to fish because of what is happening there.

2:18: We are angry and scared, because we just don’t understand why. 2:26: Why they cruelly killed our coworkers on the high sea.

2:31: They were in a fishing zone and their motor had broken down and they were viciously killed.

2:38: Honestly we are scared. The fishermen here are very scared. 2:43: As I said, we don’t go out far to fish anymore, just here near the coast.

Humberto Camaro:

2:48: They need to check things first because not everybody in this world is a narcotrafficker. 2:52: We all are fishing


Ricky Ponce:

2:55: In part I agree with Trump, and in some ways no.

2:59: If we’re told we can’t pass a line, why do it?