Fact Check: Does the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act Allow Drug Boats to Be Blown Up?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.

Claimant: Social Media

Claim: The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act of 1986, supported by Chuck Schumer, makes it legal to “blow drug boats out of the water.”

Rating: FALSE

Explanation: The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act contains no language authorizing unrestricted or lethal force against suspected drug vessels. The claim misrepresents the scope of the law, which focuses on jurisdiction and prosecution rather than rules of engagement.

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Date: 12/20/2025

 

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Last Updated on December 20, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check

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