The BareStory
The families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean have filed a lawsuit against the United States government. The complaint, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, centers on an incident that occurred on October 14, 2025, when a missile strike destroyed a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people.
The plaintiffs, identified as relatives of Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, allege that the strike was "manifestly unlawful" and lacked legal justification. According to the lawsuit, the men were not affiliated with drug cartels but were returning home to Trinidad and Tobago after working in Venezuela. Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, the families are seeking compensation under the Death on the High Seas Act. The complaint reportedly notes that the Trinidadian government has stated it holds no information linking the men to illegal activities or weapons possession.
In contrast, President Donald Trump described the operation at the time as a targeted action against a vessel affiliated with "illicit narcoterrorist networks." In a social media post featuring footage of the strike, the President stated that intelligence confirmed the boat was trafficking narcotics and identified the six individuals killed as "narcoterrorists." He asserted that the Secretary of War ordered the strike in international waters under standing authorities.
According to the lawsuit, Joseph was 26 years old, while Samaroo was 41 and had previously served a prison sentence for homicide. Family members stated that both men had contacted them shortly before the incident to confirm they had secured transport home. There was no immediate comment from the Justice Department or the Pentagon regarding the litigation.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• Taxpayers may ultimately fund the government's legal defense and any financial compensation awarded to the families if the court finds the strike violated the Death on the High Seas Act.
• The lawsuit could establish a legal precedent affecting the scope of "standing authorities" used by the military to order lethal strikes on suspected drug vessels in international waters.
• Discovery processes in court may force the public release of intelligence protocols used to distinguish between civilian workers and "narcoterrorists" during military operations.
