U.S. sinks an Ecuadorian boat in the Pacific it alleges is tied to drug trafficking
Personnel were removed before the vessel was sunk, and U.S. officials said the operation targeted a fuel station that supported illicit drug trafficking.
- On Monday, U.S. Southern Command forces sank a floating refueling station in the Eastern Pacific linked to Los Choneros, with Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere personnel removing all individuals aboard before the operation.
- The U.S. State Department designated Los Choneros as a foreign terrorist organization last week, citing the group's history of violence against officials and its drive to control drug-trafficking routes through Ecuador.
- This strike marks the third interdiction since September 2, as JTF-WHEM targets the logistics enabling long-range trafficking; destroying floating depots prevents smaller vessels from remaining at sea to transport cocaine from South America.
- Personnel removed from the vessel are expected to be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, as SOUTHCOM reports that disrupting maritime support networks forces traffickers back to shore, increasing exposure to interdiction toward Central America.
- SOUTHCOM activated JTF-WHEM in August to address regional security threats following the 2024 prison escape of former leader Fito, reflecting a mandate to dismantle criminal networks destabilizing Ecuador.
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56 Articles
The sixth in less than two weeks, for allegedly operating as a fuel refueling station for drug trafficking operations of Los Choneros, a criminal group of the Andean country associated with the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel. American forces intercepted the fishing boat Don Rufo, captured its crew members and sank it, according to the ... Continue reading "VIDEO USA destroys new Ecuadorian boat linked to criminal gang Los Choneros in the Pacific"
Guayaquil (Ecuador), 8 sep (EFE).- Another 32 crew members of two Ecuadorian boats destroyed last week by the United States in the Pacific Ocean, marked for allegedly having links with the criminal group Los Choneros, were released on parole this Tuesday, after being prosecuted for the alleged crime of illegal association. These are crew members of [...] Entry Probation conditional for 32 crew members of two Ecuadorian ships destroyed by the U.S…
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