Hegseth announces retirement of US commander leading counter-narcotics mission in Caribbean

Bogdan Hofbauer

Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander overseeing US military operations against suspected Venezuelan drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, will retire at the end of the year, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday.  Holsey, 60, has led US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) for less than a year, and his departure comes as several Navy ships and thousands of troops have deployed to the region as part of President Trump’s massive operation to counter narcoterrorist groups allegedly led by