Full Breakdown
U.S. Forces Sink Ecuadorian Vessels Linked to Los Choneros Gang in the Eastern Pacific
9/8/2026, 12:18:25 PM
The Operations
U.S. Southern Command said joint forces intercepted and sank three Ecuadorian vessels this week, identified as floating refueling stations for “illicit at-sea drug-trafficking operations.” The boats were boarded, crews removed and the vessels destroyed. This follows four earlier sinkings, totaling five vessels in less than two weeks.
Background & Context
Los Choneros, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., has been linked to attacks on officials in Ecuador. Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WH) was activated by Southern Command in August to target logistical networks supporting drug smuggling from South America to the United States.
Data & Statistics
- Vessels: Conquista II, OM2, and an unnamed boat.
- Crew taken into custody: 28 (nine from Conquista II, 19 from OM2) arrived in Manta aboard an Ecuadorian coast-guard vessel; eight crew members from Conquista II were still being returned to port.
- Earlier sinkings this year included the fishing vessel María Candelaria and the vessels OM2 and Los Tres Hermanos.
- A strike on August 23 killed two people on a “low-profile” vessel.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. officials described the operation as a precise, professional effort to disrupt a drug-trafficking network.
Criticism & Opposition
Relatives claim the men were fishermen and that no drugs were found. One wife, Rosalba, told Reuters the vessel was engaged in ordinary fishing and that the U.S. action violated human rights. Human-rights observers have questioned the legality and proportionality of lethal force in international waters.
On-the-Ground Reports
Ecuadorian families gathered in Manta after the sinkings. The navy confirmed the arrival of detained crew members aboard a local coast-guard vessel.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Location: Ecuador says the strikes occurred in its waters; U.S. statements place them in the Eastern Pacific without specifying jurisdiction.
- Evidence of drugs: Relatives say none were found; U.S. officials maintain the boats were part of a trafficking network. No independent verification has been provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is work carried out through international cooperation,” — John Reimberg, Ecuadorian interior minister
- “Their ultimate goal is to control drug trafficking routes through Ecuador by terrorizing and inflicting brutal violence on the Ecuadorian people,” — State Department official
What’s Next
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras have agreed to allow joint military operations against criminal groups, though Guatemala denies a deal. The United States continues to seek agreements to expand its anti-drug campaign across Latin America.
