OPINION | Yes, it's legal to shoot "narco-subs" – but the law has better options

International law requires that the use of force during maritime law enforcement, “be avoided as far as possible and, where force is unavoidable, it must not go beyond what is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances”.

Moreover, given that there are people on board these boats, international law requires that law enforcement officials have regard to “considerations of humanity”.

There may well be circumstances where a maritime law enforcement operation requires shooting at a vessel and those on board. It is usually a tactic of last resort rather than a first resort.