US and Ecuador Interdict and Sink Narco-Refueling Vessel Linked to Los Choneros in Eastern Pacific

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed that on August 28, 2026, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere forces, in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities, interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station for drug-trafficking operations in the eastern Pacific. The vessel, previously sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and tied to the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization, was boarded without incident by Marines and sailors from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17). Individuals aboard were safely transferred to Ecuador before U.S. forces sank the vessel. SOUTHCOM described the action as disrupting a key logistics node in narco-terrorist networks under the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition framework. Official footage released by the command shows the boarding and subsequent destruction. This operation aligns with an escalated U.S. campaign against maritime drug trafficking, including prior lethal strikes on suspected vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since 2025. Los Choneros, designated a foreign terrorist organization, has been linked to significant cocaine flows toward the United States. Ecuadorian media and U.S. outlets reported the event consistently with the military statement, highlighting deepened bilateral security cooperation.