Britain has stopped sharing intelligence with the US about vessels sailing in the Caribbean Sea that are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking, PA Media and DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The decision was made due to London's concerns about deadly strikes by the US military.
"Downing Street" did not deny, but did not confirm the information disseminated by CNN that Britain had stopped providing intelligence to its ally to prevent its involvement in military strikes that it considers contrary to international law.
Britain has long helped the US identify suspicious vessels that may be transporting drugs. The identification was based on intelligence gathered in British overseas territories in the region. According to CNN, this information helped the US Coast Guard locate the vessels, seize the drugs on board and detain the crews.
But since the administration of President Donald Trump launched military strikes against suspected drug traffickers in early September, British authorities have become concerned that intelligence information could be used for illegal attacks. The number of victims of US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean has now exceeded 70.
British government officials have told CNN that London shares the assessment of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, that the US strikes constitute extrajudicial killings. As a result, Britain stopped sharing intelligence with the US more than a month ago.
A Downing Street spokesman said in response to a question from PA Media and DPA about the CNN reports: "We do not comment on matters related to security or intelligence". He added that "decisions on this matter are within the competence of the United States" and that "questions related to whether something is contrary to international law are matters to be decided by a competent international court, not by governments".