Military retires ‘Southern Spear’ anti-drug operation for Western Hemisphere task force

The U.S. military has ended its "Southern Spear" anti-drug operation, which focused on intercepting suspected drug-carrying vessels from Central and South America, and replaced it with a broader Western Hemisphere task force. This shift reflects a strategic reorientation to tackle drug trafficking more comprehensively across the entire region. This move underscores the growing complexity of drug trafficking networks and the need for a more integrated approach to counter them effectively.