U.S. forces on Monday sank a floating refueling vessel used by an Ecuadorian organized crime ring in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, according to a statement from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The vessel, linked to the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization, was interdicted by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTFWH) forces during operations targeting at-sea drug trafficking operations.
The crew aboard the vessel was removed and will be handed over to Ecuadorian authorities, SOUTHCOM confirmed. The operation was conducted under the authority of JTFWH, which was activated in August to counter threats and strengthen regional security in the Western Hemisphere.
The vessel was identified as part of the logistical networks supporting narco-trafficking operations in the region. SOUTHCOM stated that JTFWH continues to dismantle these networks through precise and professional interdiction efforts.
Los Choneros has been designated by the U.S. State Department as a foreign terrorist organization, with members accused of attacking and threatening public officials, security personnel, judges, prosecutors, and journalists in Ecuador. The group’s stated goal is to control drug trafficking routes through Ecuador by inflicting violence on the population, according to a State Department spokesperson.
The operation follows a broader U.S. anti-drug campaign that has included dozens of strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels bound for the United States. The Trump administration has prioritized these efforts as part of its strategy to disrupt narco-trafficking networks in the Western Hemisphere.
In July, U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities cooperated to extradite Fito Macias, the leader of Los Choneros, who became the first Ecuadorian citizen extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges. The extradition underscored the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in combating organized crime.
SOUTHCOM did not provide additional details on the vessel’s origin, destination, or the specific quantities of drugs involved in the operation. The command emphasized that the interdiction was part of a broader effort to dismantle the financial and logistical infrastructure supporting narco-trafficking in the region.