CASTRIES, St Lucia — The family of a St Lucia fisherman missing after a U.S. military strike on a suspected drug vessel in Caribbean waters is seeking answers as fears grow that he may have been killed in the Feb. 13 operation.
Relatives of Ricky Joseph, a 35-year-old father of four from Vieux Fort, told The Associated Press they have not had contact with him since the strike. They say his disappearance began immediately after the reported military action.
Joseph’s brother, Titus Joseph, said he last spoke to him two days before the strike. After hearing fishermen describe the vessel believed to have been targeted, including its red, black, and green interior, he feared his brother may have been on board.
“That man never got arrested,” Titus Joseph told The Associated Press, rejecting claims that his brother was involved in drug trafficking or any criminal activity.
Search Intensifies as St Lucia Fisherman Missing Case Unfolds
Family members have filed a missing person report with local authorities as they await confirmation about what occurred at sea.
The U.S. military said three individuals described as “narco-terrorists” were killed in the Feb. 13 strike. However, relatives say no official confirmation has been provided regarding whether the St Lucia fisherman missing was among those killed.
Joseph lived in Vieux Fort on the southern tip of the island and worked most of his life as a fishing boat captain. His family says he regularly traveled regional waters as part of his livelihood.
Damaged Vessel Under Police Custody
What remained of a severely damaged boat washed ashore in St Lucia. Police have taken custody of the vessel, but have not confirmed whether it was the one struck in the military operation.
Authorities have not publicly identified the individuals killed in the strike.
On Thursday, the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines said the operation occurred in its waters and advised fishermen to exercise caution at sea. The archipelago lies just south of St Lucia.
The Feb. 13 strike forms part of a broader U.S. campaign targeting what officials describe as narcotics trafficking operations using small vessels in Caribbean waters.
Since September, U.S. strikes in the region have killed at least 151 people, according to military statements. The operations have raised concern among fishing communities across the eastern Caribbean, where many families depend on the sea for survival.
