US military destroys alleged drug trafficking boat in Eastern Pacific with Ecuador
US Southern Command says intercepted vessel was supporting the Los Choneros gang.
Quick Look
The US military, in a joint operation with Ecuador, destroyed an alleged drug trafficking boat operating as a floating refueling station in the Eastern Pacific to support the Los Choneros gang.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ecuador joined the US-led Shield of the Americas coalition in March and serves as a key transit hub for drug trafficking.
The US military said on Friday it had destroyed an alleged drug trafficking boat in a coordinated operation with Ecuador.
In a post on X, US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said that its forces intercepted a vessel "operating as a floating refueling station" in the Eastern Pacific.
According to SOUTHCOM, the vessel was operating "in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization," referring to one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal gangs, which Washington has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
"Working together with our Ecuadorian partners, our coalition dealt a decisive blow to a narco-terrorist operation responsible for moving significant amounts of drugs through the region," SOUTHCOM said.
In March, Ecuador joined President Donald Trump's "Shield of the Americas" — a US-led coalition focused on combating drug trafficking across the region.
Ecuador's strategic location between Colombia and Peru — the world's two largest producers of cocaine — makes the country a key transit hub for drug-trafficking gangs.
The US military launched Operation Southern Spear in September 2025 as part of a fight against drug trafficking in the region.
The Trump administration, however, has not presented definitive evidence that the vessels targeted in its operations were carrying or transporting illegal drugs.
Open Questions
- What evidence confirms the vessel was carrying illegal drugs?
- Were there any casualties in the operation?
