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U.S. sinks an Ecuadorian boat in the Pacific it alleges is tied to drug trafficking
U.S. Southern Command said intelligence linked the vessel to Los Choneros, and personnel aboard were removed before the ship was sunk.
- 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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US Sinks Los Choneros Cartel's Vessel 3 Days After Classifying It as a Terrorist Group
Three days after the Trump administration designated an Ecuador-based group as a foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. military attacked its drug shipping network. “On Sept. 7, under the direction of […]
·Phoenix, United States
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US Forces Sink Floating Refueling Station Used by Drug Traffickers
US Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan (C), the commander of U.S. Southern Command, visits the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, alongside other U.S. Marines, on May 23, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Mitchell)
·New York, United States
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US soldiers have sunk a boat in the eastern Pacific that is said to have supplied drug smugglers with fuel. According to the US South Command, the platform is said to have supported the network of the Ecuadorian group Los Choneros.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources40
Leaning Left4Leaning Right11Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution48% Right
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources lean Right
48% Right
L 17%
C 35%
R 48%
Factuality
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