The shooting death of a suspected drug trafficker in Honduras by a federal agent is part of a new, aggressive enforcement strategy that started in April, the Washington Post reports.
Since then, the DEA has seen a dramatic increase in arrests.
The mission is called Operation Anvil and is run by six U.S. Department helicopters that search out suspicious flights, according to the Post.
As part of the new operation, drug agents follow every flight of unknown origin and bypass rules of U.S. military engagement by contracting with non-U.S. pilots, the Post reported.